British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
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The courts apply the standard of the reasonable professional exercising a particular skill to determine liability. This is known as the Bolam test. If there is a body of competent professional opinion that supports the defendant's actions, a claim for negligence will fail. ⋯ The courts do not accept a concept of team liability. Lack of resources is not an acceptable defence to a failure to provide the correct standard of care. Standards in NHS agreements are not enforceable by the patient but may be of evidential value in litigation.