A Level Law Practice Exam

In legal terms, when does medical negligence break the chain of causation?

1. When care is immediately needed

2. When it is substantially overwhelming

3. When the negligence directly causes harm

4. When a victim’s prior injury is involved

The correct answer is: When it is substantially overwhelming

The concept of breaking the chain of causation in medical negligence is primarily associated with the idea that an intervening act must be sufficiently significant to sever the link between the original negligent act and the resulting harm. When negligence is described as "substantially overwhelming," it signifies that the subsequent breach of duty, whether by a medical professional or another intervenor, is so severe that it becomes the primary cause of the harm suffered by the victim. In legal cases, if a medical error or act of negligence occurs after an initial negligent act but is found to be substantial enough to account for the entire harm, it disrupts the causal connection that could attribute liability to the original negligent party. In essence, the new act overshadows the initial negligence, leading the court to view the new conduct as the direct cause of injury. In contrast, choices that reference immediate care needs, direct causation by negligence, or the involvement of a prior injury do not sufficiently address the requirement for overwhelming negligence. Immediate need for care does not relate to the negation of causation, while direct harm from negligence pertains to a situation where the original act is still the primary cause of the injury. Additionally, a prior injury complicates matters but doesn't inherently disrupt the chain of caus