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Asked by: Dino Neuschroer
news and politics crimeWhat is the effect of a novus actus Interveniens?
Moreover, what is the effect of there being a novus actus Interveniens?
Novus actus interveniens in medical negligence cases is when an unforeseeable event occurs after a neglectful act which intervenes and worsens the effects. This is known as “breaking the chain of causation” and often means the defendant will not be found liable – even if it can be proved that they acted negligently.
Likewise, people ask, what is breaking the chain of causation?
Breaking the chain. Breaking the chain (or novus actus interveniens, literally new intervening act) refers in English law to the idea that causal connections are deemed to finish.
⇒ As a general rule, it would seem that omissions of a third party cannot break the chain of causation. For example, if you stabbed someone and a medic arrived but refused to treat the victim, the medic's omission (to treat the victim) would not break the chain of causation.