Penal Code 1871 - Singapore Statutes Online

Act done in good faith for the benefit of a child or person of unsound mind, by or by consent of guardian

89. Nothing, which is done in good faith for the benefit of a person below 12 years of age, or of unsound mind, by or by consent, either express or implied, of the guardian or other person having lawful charge of that person, is an offence by reason of any harm which it may cause, or be intended by the doer to cause, or be known by the doer to be likely to cause, to that person:

Provided that this exception shall not extend to —

(a)

the intentional causing of death, or to the attempting to cause death;

(b)

the doing of anything which the person doing it knows to be likely to cause death for any purpose other than the preventing of death or grievous hurt, or the curing of any grievous disease or infirmity;

(c)

the voluntary causing of grievous hurt, or to the attempting to cause grievous hurt, unless it be for the purpose of preventing death or grievous hurt, or the curing of any grievous disease or infirmity;

(d)

the abetment of any offence, to the committing of which offence it would not extend.

Illustration

A, in good faith, for the benefit of his child, being below 12 years of age, without his child’s consent, has his child cut for the stone by a surgeon, knowing it to be likely that the operation will cause the child’s death, but not intending to cause the child’s death. A is within the exception, inasmuch as his object was the cure of the child.

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