Manslaughter--how did we get here?

Dr Michael J Powers QC Clerksroom & ADR Chambers, Taunton A meeting of the Medico-Legal Society was held at The Medical Society of London, 11 Chandos Street, London W1, on Thursday, 13 January 2005. The President, Dr Neville Davis, MBE, was in the Chair. The President: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I think we are in for another treat this evening. Standing on my left, Michael Powers is very clearly a man of many parts. He started off with a degree in biochemistry, then qualified at the Middlesex in 1972 and at that time practised as a junior doctor, principally in obstetrics, anaesthesia and intensive care, and then went on to be called to the Bar in 1979, when he did mostly criminal work, but then, as one would imagine, he leaned towards medical negligence, as it then was, now clinical negligence, of course, and has built up a considerable practice. I had dinner with Michael this evening and I asked him if there was any particular thing that he would like me to emphasise in my introduction to you. He gave some interesting responses. He is very interested in the scientific basis of evidence, and also the ethos of the two professions. Michael said quite clearly that, although he works both for claimants and defendants, he still regards his clients almost as patients and therefore has a duty of that type of care – it is an interesting concept. Michael, I would be very grateful if you would talk to us now on Manslaughter – How Did We Get Here? (Applause.) Dr Powers: Mr President, thank you very much for your kind words of introduction. The 13th century depiction of Hippocrates administering some potion to a sick patient whilst his wife or assistant looks on with an exophthalmic stare of astonishment – as if to say, “Are you really going to administer that medicine to this poor fellow?” – reminds of how the medical profession was seen in 500–400 BC: