(2) Where a person is charged with rape, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault or any other crime
constituted by the absence of consent by another person to any conduct, the fact that the other person consented to
the conduct shall be a complete defence to a charge alleging the commission of that crime if
(a) the consent is given prior to the conduct, not as ratification afterwards; and
(b) the person who gives the consent is
(i) capable in law of giving such consent; and
(ii) able to understand the nature and possible consequences of the conduct and to give informed
consent thereto;
and
(c) the consent is real and is not induced by threats, force, fraud or mistake intentionally or knowingly
induced by the person charged with the crime.
246 When consent no defence
It shall not be lawful for any person to consent to
(a) being killed; or
(b) subject to this Part, the infliction of serious bodily injury upon himself or herself;
and such consent shall not be a defence to any criminal charge arising out of such killing or the infliction of such
injury.
247 Consent to medical treatment for therapeutic purposes
(1) In this section
“patient” means a person to whom medical treatment is given or upon whom a medical operation is
performed;
“qualified person”, in relation to any medical treatment or operation, means a person who, by virtue of his or
her qualifications or training, is in all the circumstances qualified to give the medical treatment or
perform the medical operation.
(2) Where, in order to cure or alleviate any disease or disability from which a patient suffers or is likely to
suffer, a qualified person gives any medical treatment to or performs any medical operation upon a patient
(a) with the consent of the patient; or
(b) if the patient is incapable of giving consent, with the consent of the patient’s parent, guardian, spouse or
any other person capable in law of giving consent on behalf of the patient; or
(c) in the case of a minor to whom section 76 of the Children’s Act [Chapter 5:06] applies, with authority
given in terms of that section;
such consent or authority shall be a complete defence to a charge of murder or assault arising out of that treatment
or operation if
(i) the consent complies with paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of subsection (1) of section two hundred
and forty-five; and
(ii) the treatment or operation is carried out competently in accordance with recognised medical
procedures.
(3) If a qualified person believes on reasonable grounds that
(a) a patient urgently requires medical treatment or a medical operation to cure or alleviate any disease or
disability from which the patient is suffering or is reasonably suspected of suffering; and
(b) it is not practicable in the circumstances to obtain the consent or authority required by or referred to in
subsection (2);
he or she may give the treatment or perform the operation, as the case may be, without having obtained such
consent or authority.
(4) The fact that a qualified person gave treatment or performed an operation in terms of subsection (3) shall
be a complete defence to a charge of murder or assault arising out of that treatment or operation if the treatment or
operation is carried out competently in accordance with recognised medical procedures.
248 Consent to medical treatment for non-therapeutic purposes
(1) In this section
“patient” means a person to whom medical treatment is given or upon whom a medical operation is
performed;
“qualified person”, in relation to any medical treatment or operation, means a person who, by virtue of his or
her qualifications or training, is in all the circumstances qualified to give the medical treatment or
perform the medical operation.
(2) Where a qualified person, with the consent of the patient concerned, gives any medical treatment to or
performs any medical operation upon a patient
(a) otherwise than to cure or alleviate any disease or disability; or
(b) in order to sterilise the patient;
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