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Edwards S. Ann R Coll Surg Engl (Suppl) 2014; 96: 118–119

The Adomako Test has to be met in order to prove medical manslaughter. The two important pillars are, 1) that the breach was grossly negligent although otherwise lawful, and 2) the breach contributed significantly to the patient's death. Adomako was an anaesthetist who was found guilty of manslaughter following a failure in duty, that was reckless, when he did not notice that an oxygen pipe had become disconnected from the ventilator for six minutes resulting in the tragic death of a patient. The number of charges of medical manslaughter against doctors in the UK has been rising. This paper summarises six recent cases, including the death of a patient after a delay in ultrasound for a patient with kidney infection (two-year custodial sentence), and a patient who died from diabetic ketoacidosis having been erroneously diagnosed with depression (two-and-a-half year custodial sentence and erasure). For the dental implications of the overarching Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 see Br Dent J 2008; 204: 497–502.