title: A SHOCKING REQUIREMENT IN THE LAW ON NEGLIGENCE LIABILITY FOR PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS: LIVERPOOL WOMEN'S HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST V RONAYNE [2015] EWCA CIV 588.
abstract: The Ronayne case concerned a husband who suffered a psychiatric illness, described as an adjustment disorder, in seeing the condition of his wife who was the primary victim of admitted medical negligence. His claim for compensation, as a 'secondary victim', failed because he could not satisfy the legal requirement that there must be a sudden shocking event. This commentary criticises that requirement which appears to make no medical sense.
authors: Faculty of Law, University of Oxford; All Souls College, Oxford, UK andrew.burrows@law.ox.ac.uk.
authors: Andrew S
authors: AS
authors: Burrows
authors: University of Edinburgh, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Edinburgh, UK.
authors: John H
authors: JH
authors: Burrows
mesh_terms: D035881:Compensation and Redress; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice; D001523:Mental Disorders; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Adjustment disorder; Compensation; Negligence; Psychiatric illness; Shock; Tort