Penal Code
2008 Ed.
CAP. 224
50
person’s consent, if the circumstances are such that it is impossible for
that person to signify consent, or if that person is incapable of giving
consent, and has no guardian or other person in lawful charge of him
from whom it is possible to obtain consent in time for the thing to be
done with benefit:
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 hurt, or to the attempting to cause
hurt, for any purpose other than the preventing of death or
hurt;
(d) the abetment of any offence, to the committing of which
offence it would not extend.
Illustrations
(a) Z is thrown from his horse, and is insensible. A, a surgeon, finds that Z
requires to be trepanned. A, not intending Z’s death, but in good faith, for
Z’s benefit, performs the trepan before Z recovers his power of judging for
himself. A has committed no offence.
(b) [Deleted by Act 51 of 2007]
(c) A, a surgeon, sees a child suffer an accident which is likely to prove fatal
unless an operation is immediately performed. There is not time to apply
to the child’s guardian. A performs the operation in spite of the entreaties
of the child, intending, in good faith, the child’s benefit. A has committed
no offence.
(d) A is in a house which is on fire, with Z, a child. People below hold out a
blanket. A drops the child from the house-top, knowing it to be likely that
the fall may kill the child, but not intending to kill the child, and intending
in good faith, the child’s benefit. Here, even if the child is killed by the
fall, A has committed no offence.
Explanation —Mere pecuniary benefit is not benefit within the meaning of
sections 88, 89 and 92.
[Indian PC 1860, s. 92]
Informal Consolidation – version in force from 1/4/2015
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