A Level Law Practice Exam

What causation principle was established in the case of Cheshire?

1. Medical complications do not affect liability

2. The original act must be the only cause of death

3. D's act must be a significant cause of V's death

4. Medical treatment always absolves liability

The correct answer is: D's act must be a significant cause of V's death

The principle of causation established in the case of Cheshire revolves around the importance of determining whether the defendant's actions were a significant cause of the victim's death. The court held that for liability to attach, it is sufficient that the defendant's actions played a significant role in bringing about the victim's death, even if there were other contributing factors later, such as medical treatment. In Cheshire, the facts involved a victim who sustained injuries from a gunshot wound, which were subsequently complicated by negligent medical treatment that contributed to the victim's death. The court found that the negligent treatment did not break the chain of causation because the defendant's initial act remained a substantial factor in the outcome. This highlights the principle that the causal link can be maintained even when there are intervening acts, provided they do not absolve the original actor of liability. The other options address nuances surrounding causation but miss the critical aspect affirmed in Cheshire: that the defendant's act needs to remain a significant cause of the victim's death, despite subsequent events. The rulings around medical complications or the original act being the only cause do not capture the core legal principle that was clarified in Cheshire, which focuses on the substantial role of the defendant's action within the broader context of caus