NHS warned over new corporate killing laws:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The UK National Health Service (NHS) and other public bodies are being warned that they are unlikely to be exempt from proposed corporate killing legislation expected to be introduced during the present parliament. The warning comes from the British Safety Council, which says that four "tough laws" are set to replace the current "ineffective" law on involuntary manslaughter. The category of corporate killing aims to make companies accountable in criminal law for falling far below reasonable standards. The categories of reckless killing and killing by gross carelessness, address personal responsibility and carry prison terms of between 10 years and life. The proposed legislation comes at a time when the UK, among other countries, is seeking to introduce a blame-free culture among surgeons that commit errors (see Clinica No 966, p 7).