Report on Damages for Psychiatric Injury

Book excerpt: Following on from a consultation paper published in August 2002 (Discussion paper 120, ISBN 0108880699), this report examines the law in Scotland relating to psychiatric injury caused by another person. It considers the existing law and its defects, and makes recommendations for its reform. It concentrates on cases where the act or omission of the wrongdoer gives rise to mental harm without causing any physical or other injury to the victim. Such claims can arise where people are caught up in serious incidents where they are emerge physically unscathed or where close relatives are killed or injured, or in accidents on roads or due to work-related stress. Recommendations include replacement of the current system of common law rules by a statutory obligation to make reparation for wrongfully caused mental harm. The report includes the text of the proposed draft Bill as an appendix, together with explanatory notes.