Res Ipsa Loquitur
Definition
Res Ipsa Loquitur is a Latin term meaning "the thing speaks for itself." It is a legal doctrine applied when the nature of the accident itself is sufficient to imply negligence, even without direct evidence.
Essentials
- The accident would not ordinarily occur without negligence.
- The instrument causing injury was under the control of the defendant.
- The injured person did not contribute to the accident.
Examples in Medical Practice
- Surgical instrument left inside the abdomen
- Operation on the wrong limb
- Wrong blood transfusion
- Administration of the wrong drug