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LAWS50025 Torts

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390336

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Research Assignment

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7/08/2015

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CASENOTE:HUNTERANDNEWENGLANDLOCALHEALTHDISTRICTV
MCKENNA(2014)253CLR270
JOELYWILKINSONHAYES

IINTRODUCTION
TortLawinAustraliahasenduredatumultuousfewdecades.1Withtheplaintiffs
successbecomingincreasinglyrare,2Australianpersonalinjurylawyerswaitedwith
batedbreathtoheartheverdictinHunterandNewEnglandLocalHealthDistrictv
McKenna(2014)253CLR270(McKenna).3However,theseexpectationswere
dashedwithaunanimousandshortdecisionbeingdeliveredbytheHighCourt.4
Withthereasoningverymuchfocusedonthestatutorypowerpossessedbythe
hospital,thecourtfollowedasimilarreasoningtothatgivenbySullivanvMoody
(2001)207CLR562(Sullivan).Whilstthedecisionpurportedtoprotectmedical
professionalsandthementallyillfromanonerousdutytothirdparties,itispossible
toseeitasyetanotherblowfortheambitoftortlaw.
IIFACTSANDCLAIMS
MrPettigrove,aVictorianmanwithalonghistoryofchronicparanoidschizophrenia,
wasadmittedandheldinvoluntarilyatManningBaseHospitalundertheMental
HealthAct1990(NSW)(MHA).Afterapsychiatricevaluation,andconsultation
withhisrelatives,thedoctorinchargeofMrPettigrovescasereleasedhimintothe
careofafriendMrRose.DuringthedrivebacktoMelbournewhereitwasintended
thatMrPettigrovewouldreceivecontinuingcare,hekilledMrRosealleging
retributionforharmcausedinaformerlife.MrPettigrovelatertookhisownlife.5

1 See, eg, Pam Stewart & Anita Stuhmacke, High Court Negligence Cases
2000-10 (2014) 36 Sydney Law Review 585.
2 Ibid 595.
3 David Hirsch, McKenna in the High Court (2015) March/April 127
Precedent 53, 55.
4 Ibid.
5 Mckenna, 271-2.
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Theappellants,HunterNewEnglandLocalHealthAuthority,arguedthatacommon
lawdutytothirdpartiescouldnotbeowed,intheexerciseofaconflictingstatutory
duty.6Theyreliedoncasessuggestingthatthecommonlawwillnotordinarily
imposeadutytoprotectanotherfromharmunlesstheyhad,themselves,createdthe
risk7andsuggestedthat,ifadutywastobeimposed,itwouldcreateinconsistent
obligations,relyinguponthereasoninginSullivan.8
Therespondents,beingMrRosesrelatives,disagreed.Theyarguedthatgiventhe
controlpossessedbythehospital,aswellastheirclosenesstothevictimandthe
victimsvulnerabilityadutywasnecessitated.9Further,theyclaimedthattherewas
noinconsistencybetweentheallegeddutyandthestatute.Theysubmittedthatitwas
erroneoustocharacterisetheMHAasprimarilyprotectingthelibertyofmentallyill
persons,andarguedthatitwasmoreaccuratetoseetheMHAaspermitting
involuntarydetentionwhenreasonablegroundsforbelievingthatcare,treatmentor
control[are]necessarytoprotectthepersonorotherpeoplefromseriousharm.10As
such,theysubmittedthatacommonlawdutyexistedalongsidethatofthestatute.11
IIIDIFFICULTYINESTABLISHINGADUTY
ASullivan
InSullivan,thecourtheldthatpeoplecanbesubjecttoanumberofdutiesaslongas
theyarenotirreconcilable.12However,theydeemedadoctorsdutytoanunderage
patientparamount.Assuch,thecourtheldnodutyofcaretoexistbetweenmedical
professionalswhoexaminesuspectedvictimsofchildabuse,andtheiralleged

6 Ibid 272.
7 See, eg, Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2000) 102 FCR 307; CAL
No 14 Pty Ltd v Motor Accidents Insurance Board (2009) 239 CLR 390
8 Mckenna, 273.
9 Ibid 273-4.
10 Merryn Elizabeth McKenna, Respondents Submission, Submission in
McKenna, S142 of 2014, 20 August 2014, 5 [9].
11 Ibid 274.
12 Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562, 582 [60].
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abusers.Theyfoundthatsuchadutywouldbeinconsistentwiththeproperand
effectivedischargeofthoseresponsibilitiesowedtothechild.13
Initsreasoning,thecourtinMcKenna(followingSullivan)outlinedfoursituationsin
whichestablishingadutyisproblematic:
1. Whentheproblemisboundupwiththeharmsuffered14
2. Whenthedefendantistherepositoryofastatutorypowerordiscretion15
3. Whenthereisdifficultyinconfiningtheclassofpersonstowhomadutymay
beowed(indeterminancy)16
4. Whenthereisaconcernaboutthepreservationofthecoherenceofotherlegal
principlesorstatutoryschemes17
Whilstthecourtdeemedallfourprinciplesrelevant,itstatedthatthesecondwas
determinative,positingaconflictbetweenthestatutorypowergivenbytheMHAand
theallegedduty.18Assuch,thecourtdidnotdeemitnecessarytoentertainarguments
abouttheCivilLiabilityAct2002(NSW)(CLA).19Followingsuit,thisessaywill
examineonlytheissuesinestablishingaduty,andtheeffectuponthelawoftorts.
ThediscussionoftheCLAwillbeleftforfurtherwriting.
BTheMentalHealthAct
LikemostAustralianjurisdictions,NSWhasimplementedvariousUnitedNations
instrumentsinmentalhealthlegislation.20Inparticular,thePrinciplesforthe
ProtectionofPersonswithMentalIllnessandfortheImprovementofMentalHealth

13 Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562, 582 [62].

14 See, eg, Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil (2005) 205
CLR 254.
15 See, eg, Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee (1999) 200
CLR 1; Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 180.
16 See, eg, Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180.
17 See, eg, Hill v Van Erp (1997) 188 CLR 159 at 231, per Gummow J
18 McKenna, 279-80 [19]-[22].
19 Ibid 277 [12].
20 Ian Freckleton QC, Legal Liability for Psychiatrists Decisions About
Involuntary Status for Mental Health Patients (2014) 22 JLM 280, 280.
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Care21andtheConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities.22Keytothese
documentsistheleastrestrictiveprinciple,theideathatthedeprivationoftheliberty
oftheindividualisonlyappropriateasalastresort.23Thisprincipleisimbeddedinthe
MHAins4(2)(b),andreinforcedelsewhere.24Togethertheseprovisionsensurethat
thepatientisonlytobeinvoluntarilydetainediftheyarea)deemedtobementallyill
and;b)thereisnoother,lessrestrictiveoptionavailable.25Thecourtfoundthis
statutorydutytobeincompatiblewithacommonlawdutytotakereasonablecarein
regardstothose,withwhomthementallyillpersonmaycomeincontactwhennot
detained.26Thecourtreasonedthat,inconsideringtothesafetyofothers,suchaduty
couldforeseeablyleadtoapersonbeingdetainedforaslongastheyweredeemedto
bementallyill.27
IVDISCUSSIONOFTHEDECISION
ThedecisionisMcKennahascomeunderscrutiny.Therulingoffersahighlevelof
immunitytopsychiatristsandtheinstitutionsinwhichtheywork.28Therearesome
whothinkthebalancehastippedtoofarinthemedicalprofessionsfavour.29
FreckletonQC,forexample,preferredthecharacterisationoftheMHAprofferedby
therespondents,stating:
Suchcriterianecessitateregardtobehadtoanyotherlessintrusivewayoftreatingthepatient
butinnosensedotheyderogatefromtheoptionforinvoluntarystatustobeimposedifitis
otherwise...Properlyconstrued,therefore,thecriteriaforinvoluntarinessarenotinconflictwith
therecognitionofadutytotreatprovidedthecriteriaaresatisfied. 30

21 General Assembly, The protection of persons with mental illness and the
improvement of mental health care, A/RES/46/119, 75th Plenary Meeting, UN
GAOR (17 December 1991) Annex.
22 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, opened for signature 30 March 2007, UNTS 2518 281.
23 Freckleton QC, above n 18, 280.
24 See, eg, ss 20-37A.
25 McKenna (2014) 253 CLR 270, 281 [28].
26 Ibid, 281-2 [29].
27 Ibid, 282 [31].
28Freckleton QC, above n 18, 280.
29 Freckleton QC, above n 18, 281.
30 Freckleton QC, above n 18, 288.
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Criticshavesimilarlyarguedthatwhilstthehumanrightsofthementallyillperson
shouldbeaffordedhighregard,theyshouldnotdetractfromthemoreimperative
righttofittingtreatmentandongoingcare.31Thosewhodisagreewiththecourthave
askedhowthehospitalcouldpossiblypurporttogivepropercaretothementallyill
personwithoutgivingregardtotherisktheyposetoothers.32Instead,onesuch
detractorargues,regardshouldbegiventothedefinitionsinss910oftheMHA.33
Thesesectionsstipulatethatamentallyillpersonisanindividualwhoissuffering
fromamentalillnesswhich,withoutcare,controlortreatmentcouldleadtothem
harmingthemselvesorothers.34Thus,theyconclude,thelegislationcontemplatesthe
lawfulrestrictionoflibertyofmentallyillpersonsonthebasisoftheirbeingadanger
toothers,andassuch,thereisnoinconsistencybetweenthestatutoryduty,andthe
proposeddutyatcommonlaw.35TheargumentsofMcKennascriticsarecompelling,
andonthefaceofthemseemtoeasilyovercometheinconsistencythecourt
struggledwith.However,thedecisioninXXvWW[2014]VSC564(XXvWW)
shedslightonjustwheretheseargumentsfallflat.
InXXvWW,thecourtcontemplatedprovisionsintheMentalHealthAct1986(Vic)
similartotherelevantprovisionsoftheMHA.Withfactssomewhatanalogousto
thoseathand,thecourtengagedwithMcKennainanefforttoestablishwhetherthe
MentalHealthAct1986(Vic),preventedthedefendantsfromconsideringthesafety
oftheplaintiffschildrenindecidingwhetherornottoinvoluntarilydetainher.36The
courtdistinguishedthetwopiecesoflegislationhowever,onthebasisoftheinclusion
ofthewordsintheVictorianActandtheprotectionofmembersofthepublic.37
Thisdistinguishmentisusefulinunderstandingthelimitationsoftheabove
detractorsarguments.Whilstbeingadangertothepublicmaybeacriteriain
31 Russ Scott, Liability for Health Services for not Involuntarily Detaining and
Treating a Mentally Ill Person (2015) 22(1) Psychiatry, Psychology and Law 1,
26.
32 Hirsch, above n 3, 57.
33 Scott, above 26, 26.
34 MHA, ss 8-9.
35 Scott, above n 26, 26.
36 XXv WW, [133].
37 Ibid [137].
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categorisingapersonasmentallyillforthepurposesoftheAct,itisnotacriteriato
whichonemustpayheedindecidingwhetherornottodetainthemagainsttheirwill.
TheseareargumentsMcKennascriticsdonotseemtosurmount.However,whilstthe
courtinMcKennamayhavefeltboundinapplyingSullivanandinlightofthis,may
havecorrectlyinterpretedthestatute,thisdoesnotnecessarilymeanthatthedecision
isjust.
VROLEOFTORTLAW
Thepredominantpurposeoftortlawistocompensateplaintiffsforlosssufferedasa
resultofwrongfulconduct.38Asisfamouslyquotedfromtheseminalcaseon
negligence,liabilityisbasedonageneralpublicsentimentofmoralwrongdoing
forwhichtheoffendermustpay.39Tortlawthusplaysanimportantroleinthe
cohesivenessandegalityofourlegalsystem.AsMcLaclinstates:
Iftortlawbecomesincapableofrecognizingimportantwrongs,andhenceincapableofrighting
them,victimswillbeleftwithasenseofgrievanceandthepublicwillbeleftwithafeelingthat
justiceisnotwhatitshouldbe40

Howeverinrecentyears,therehasbeenashiftintortlawthatchallengesthisvery
role.

VCHANGINGTORTLAW
Sincetheturnofthecentury,theclimateoftheHighCourthasgonefrombeingvery
muchproplaintifftoalmostasequallyprodefendant.Thishasresultedinan
atmospherewherebyplaintiffsseemtoberequiredtotakecareofthemselves.41
Thisshiftfollowedaperceivedcrisisininsurance,42andmediapressuretomitigate
38 Sarah Withnall Howe, Greg Walsh & Patrick Rooney, Torts (LexisNexis
Study Guide 2nd ed, 2012) 1.6; Harriton v Stephens (2006) 226 CLR 52, 264
per Crennan J.
39 Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] UKHL 100, 580 per Aitkin J.
40 Beverly McLachlin J, Negligence Law Proving the Connection in
Nicholas. Mullany and Allen M. Linden (eds), Torts Tomorrow (LBC
Information Services, 1998) 21, 22.
41 Stewart above n 1, 585.
42 Peter Cane, Reforming Tort Law in Australia: A Personal Perspective
(2003) 27 MULR 649.
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anoverzealousandproplaintiffsystem.43Thegovernmentcommissionedareport
investigatingtheseperceivedflaws.44Followingthereport,therewasnotonlya
decreaseinthenumberofcasesgivenleavetoappeal,butalsoadefiniteshiftinthe
waynegligencecaseswerefound.45Between1987and1999forexample,theplaintiff
hadasuccessrateof71%,46howeverbetween200011,thisfigureplummetedtojust
32.05%.47WhilstStewartandStuhmackeattributelittleofthisdirectlytoreform
legislation,theypositthatthereformswereclearlyinstructive.48Thisshifthasbeen
criticised,withJohnNorth,PresidentoftheLawCouncilofAustraliasayingthe
functionsofnegligencelawhavebeenseverelydiluted,particularlyinNSW.49
Whilethisessayisnottheforumforsuchspeculations,thequestionmustbeasked
whetherornotMcKennawouldhavebeenfounddifferentlyhaditbeenbrought
beforetheshift.
VIAPPLICATIONTOMCKENNA
Giventhatnodutywasfound,itisunsettledwhethertheappellantsdemonstrated
reasonablecare.However,itisundeniableonthefactsthatthefamilyofMrRose
sufferedharm.50Thusifoneweretohypothesisethattherelativeswerevictimsof
wrongfulconduct,theyarelefthavingsufferedlosswithnoavenuethroughwhich
toseekcompensation.ThiswasdeemedunacceptableincasessuchasMillervMiller

43 Pam Stewart & Anita Stuhmacke, Lacunae and Litigants: A study of

negligence cases in the High Court of Australia in the First Decade of the 21 st
Century and beyond (2014) 38:151 MULR 151, 185.
44 See Panel of Eminent Persons, Review of the Law of Negligence: Final
Report (2002) (Ipp Report).
45 Stewart above n 1, 595.
46 Harold Luntz, Torts Turnaround Downunder (2001) 1 Oxford University
Commonwealth Law Journal 95, 96.
47 Stewart above n 1, 595.
48 Ibid 589-92.
49 John North, Tort Law: Whats the Point? (Speech delivered at the
Inaugural ACT Branch Conference of the Australian Lawyers Alliance,
Australian Capital Territory, 24 June 2005) <
http://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/lawcouncil/images/LCAPDF/speeches/20050624TortLaw.pdf>.
50 McKenna, 279-8 [20].
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(2011)242CLR446.Whetherornotthisisduetotheshiftinnegligencelaw,or
merelytheevolutionoftheprecedent,itexistsasachallengetothelawoftorts.
VIICONCLUSION
Ifharmsuchasthatsufferedbytherelativesiswidelyrecognised,andtheambitof
tortsistoprotectagainstsuchloss,thenitstandstoreasonthattheinterests
representedbythosesuchasthefamilyofMrRoseshouldbeprotected.Thiswasnot
thecaseinNSWatthetimeofMrPettigrovesdetention.Whilstthecourtperhaps
rightlyfoundthatnodutyexisted,intheclimateofaprodefendantcourt,and
workingwiththeMHAasitwas,thisisnotenoughfortortlawtofunctionasit
should.Asitstands,theinterestsofthosesuchastherelativeofMrRoseare
protectedinotherjurisdictionsbythemereinsertionofafewwords.51Iftortlawisto
remainofutilitytovictims,thenalljurisdictionsmustfollowsuit.

51 See, eg, Mental Health Act 1986 (Vic) 4(2)(b); XXv WW, [133].
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
AArticles/Books/Reports
Cane,Peter,ReformingTortLawinAustralia:APersonalPerspective(2003)27MULR
649
Freckleton,IanQC,LegalLiabilityforPsychiatristsDecisionsAboutInvoluntaryStatusfor
MentalHealthPatients(2014)22JLM280
Hirsch,David,McKennaintheHighCourt(2015)March/April127Precedent53,55
Luntz,Harold,TortsTurnaroundDownunder(2001)1OxfordUniversityCommonwealth
LawJournal95
Scott,RussLiabilityforHealthServicesfornotInvoluntarilyDetainingandTreatinga
MentallyIllPerson(2015)22(1)Psychiatry,PsychologyandLaw1
Stewart,Pam&AnitaStuhmacke,HighCourtNegligenceCases200010(2014)36Sydney
LawReview585
Stewart,Pam&AnitaStuhmacke,LacunaeandLitigants:Astudyofnegligencecasesinthe
HighCourtofAustraliaintheFirstDecadeofthe21stCenturyandbeyond(2014)38:151
MULR151
WithnallHowe,Sarah,GregWalsh&PatrickRooney,Torts(LexisNexisStudyGuide2nded,
2012)
McLachlin,BeverlyJ,NegligenceLawProvingtheConnectioninNicholas.Mullanyand
AllenM.Linden(eds),TortsTomorrow(LBCInformationServices,1998)21

BCases
BrodievSingletonShireCouncil(2001)206CLR180
CALNo14PtyLtdvMotorAccidentsInsuranceBoard(2009)239CLR390
CrimminsvStevedoringIndustryFinanceCommittee(1999)200CLR1
GrahamBarclayOystersPtyLtdvRyan(2000)102FCR307
HarritonvStephens(2006)226CLR52
HillvVanErp(1997)188CLR159
HunterandNewEnglandLocalHealthDistrictvMcKenna(2014)253CLR270
MillervMiller(2011)242CLR446
ModburyTriangleShoppingCentrePtyLtdvAnzil(2005)205CLR254
PerrevApandPtyLtd(1999)198CLR180
SullivanvMoody(2001)207CLR562
XXvWW[2014]VSC564

CLegislation
CivilLiabilityAct2002(NSW)

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MentalHealthAct1986(Vic)
MentalHealthAct1990(NSW)

DTreaties
OptionalProtocoltotheConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities,openedfor
signature30March2007,UNTS2518281

EOther
GeneralAssembly,Theprotectionofpersonswithmentalillnessandtheimprovementof
mentalhealthcare,A/RES/46/119,75thPlenaryMeeting,UNGAOR(17December1991)
Annex.
McKenna,MerrynElizabeth,RespondentsSubmission,SubmissioninMcKenna,S142of
2014,20August2014,5[9].
North,John,TortLaw:WhatsthePoint?(SpeechdeliveredattheInauguralACTBranch
ConferenceoftheAustralianLawyersAlliance,AustralianCapitalTerritory,24June2005)<
http://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/lawcouncil/images/LCA
PDF/speeches/20050624TortLaw.pdf>.
PanelofEminentPersons,ReviewoftheLawofNegligence:FinalReport(2002)

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