R v Quick
1973 · QB 910
Posted By lanbuk.com
- Facts
- Quick, a diabetic, inflicted actual bodily harm during a hypoglycaemic episode after taking insulin and then failing to eat. He did not know what he was doing. The judge ruled that the blackout was a disease of the mind. Quick . He appealed.
- Issue
- Is hypoglycaemia caused by insulin a disease of the mind?
- Held
- The Court of Appeal held that it was not. should have been left to the jury. The was quashed.
- Principle
- An external cause of unconsciousness, such as a therapeutic drug, founds non-insane automatism. An internal disease founds insanity.
- Why it matters
- Read it with Sullivan. The difference is the cause, not the violence.
Words and Latin in this note
- Automatism
- An act done by the muscles without control by the mind, such as a spasm, a reflex, or a blackout. An external cause can be a complete defence. An internal cause, such as epilepsy, is treated as insanity. Open the note.
For study only. By lanbuk.com. Always check current sources and consult a qualified professional.