Jacob Mathew Test
Definition
The framework from Jacob Mathew v. State of Punjab (2005) 6 SCC 1 for criminal medical negligence under IPC § 304A (now BNS § 106): requires proof of duty, breach, causation, and that the negligence is gross, culpable, and of a wanton character rather than a mere error of judgment or inadvertence.
- Case
- Jacob Mathew v. State of Punjab (2005) 6 SCC 1
- Jurisdiction
- India
- Applies to
- Criminal medical negligence
- Relevant provision
- IPC § 304A, now BNS § 106
- Required elements
- Duty, breach, causation, gross negligence
Common questions
How does the Jacob Mathew standard differ from ordinary civil negligence?+
Civil negligence can rest on an ordinary error of judgment, but criminal liability under this test requires the negligence to be gross, culpable and reckless, a materially higher bar meant to protect doctors from criminal prosecution for honest mistakes made in good faith.
Why does this test matter for a forensic pathologist reviewing a death?+
When a death follows medical treatment, the pathologist's findings on causation feed directly into whether the Jacob Mathew elements can be satisfied, and the distinction between a mere error of judgment and gross culpable negligence often turns on the technical medical evidence the pathologist provides.
Related terms
- BNS § 106
- Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, reproducing the substance of IPC § 304A (causing death by negligence). Sub-section (1) applies...
- Bolam Test
- The UK standard for medical negligence from Bolam v. Friern Hospital Management Committee (1957) 1 WLR 582: a doctor is not negligent...
- Bolitho Qualification
- The qualification to Bolam from Bolitho v. City and Hackney HA (1997) 4 All ER 771: the responsible body of medical opinion...
- Helling V. Carey (1974)
- Washington Supreme Court case in which ophthalmologist Thomas Carey was held negligent for not performing tonometry on a patient under 40, despite...
- Martin D'Souza Safeguard
- The procedural protection from Martin D'Souza v. Mohd. Ishfaq (2009) 3 SCC 1 requiring that before registering a criminal case against a...
- Montgomery V. Lanarkshire (2015)
- UK Supreme Court case replacing the Bolam test on risk disclosure with a patient-centred test: a doctor must take reasonable care to...
- NMC (India)
- The National Medical Commission, established under the NMC Act 2019, replacing the Medical Council of India. Comprises four boards (UGMEB, PGMEB, ARB,...