''Cooper v Wakley'' (1828) 172 ER 507 is an
English tort law
English tort law concerns the compensation for harm to people's rights to health and safety, a clean environment, property, their economic interests, or their reputations. A "tort" is a wrong in civil, rather than criminal law, that usually requi ...
case, concerning the libel by the editor of ''
The Lancet
''The Lancet'' is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal and one of the oldest of its kind. It is also the world's highest-impact academic journal. It was founded in England in 1823.
The journal publishes original research articles, ...
''.
Facts
Dr.
Thomas Wakley
Thomas Wakley (11 July 179516 May 1862) was an English surgeon. He gained fame as a social reformer who campaigned against incompetence, privilege and nepotism. He was the founding editor of ''The Lancet'', a radical Member of Parliament (MP) a ...
alleged in ''
The Lancet
''The Lancet'' is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal and one of the oldest of its kind. It is also the world's highest-impact academic journal. It was founded in England in 1823.
The journal publishes original research articles, ...
'' that Dr. Bransby Cooper had negligently performed an operation on a patient. He alleged Dr. Cooper caused a patient incredible suffering as he attempted to extract a bladder stone through a cut beneath the scrotum. The patient subsequently died. Dr. Cooper sued Dr. Wakley for defaming him and asked for 2000 pounds to be paid in damages. The Court ruled in favor of Dr Cooper and awarded him 100 pounds as damages.
Judgment
See also
*
English tort law
English tort law concerns the compensation for harm to people's rights to health and safety, a clean environment, property, their economic interests, or their reputations. A "tort" is a wrong in civil, rather than criminal law, that usually requi ...
Notes
{{reflist, 2
References
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English defamation case law
English tort case law
1828 in British law
1828 in case law