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United Kingdom causationend of life

R v Adams (Bodily Autonomy)

[1957] Crim LR 365
JurisdictionUnited Kingdom
CourtCentral Criminal Court (Old Bailey)
Year1957
StatusPersuasive authority

Key Principle

Devlin J directed that a doctor who administers pain-relieving drugs knowing they will shorten life does not commit murder if the primary intention is to relieve pain (the doctrine of double effect).

Area of Law

criminal

Related Cases

SFO v Barclays plc [2018] EWHC 3055 (QB)
R v Jogee [2016] UKSC 8
R v Hayes [2015] EWCA Crim 1944

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