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United Kingdom

R v Adams (Bodily Autonomy)

[1957] Crim LR 365
JurisdictionUnited Kingdom
Year1957
Statusunclear

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

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Appellate court must itself assess whether jury verdict was unreasonable where unchallenged opportunity evidence raised reasonable doubt as to guilt.

Smethurst v Commissioner of Police (2020) 272 CLR 177

Search warrant executed at journalist's home held invalid for technical defects; High Court considered scope of implied freedom of political communication but declined to quash the warrant on that basis.

De Silva v The Queen (2019) 268 CLR 57

The High Court considered the Browne v Dunn rule and the appropriate jury directions when a party fails to cross-examine a witness on a matter it intends to contradict.

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