Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)

Act current to 2012-05-02 and last amended on 2012-04-05. Previous Versions

Marginal note:Duty of persons undertaking acts dangerous to life

216. Every one who undertakes to administer surgical or medical treatment to another person or to do any other lawful act that may endanger the life of another person is, except in cases of necessity, under a legal duty to have and to use reasonable knowledge, skill and care in so doing.

  • R.S., c. C-34, s. 198.
Marginal note:Duty of persons undertaking acts

217. Every one who undertakes to do an act is under a legal duty to do it if an omission to do the act is or may be dangerous to life.

  • R.S., c. C-34, s. 199.
Marginal note:Duty of persons directing work

217.1 Every one who undertakes, or has the authority, to direct how another person does work or performs a task is under a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent bodily harm to that person, or any other person, arising from that work or task.

  • 2003, c. 21, s. 3.
Marginal note:Abandoning child

218. Every one who unlawfully abandons or exposes a child who is under the age of ten years, so that its life is or is likely to be endangered or its health is or is likely to be permanently injured,

  • (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; or

  • (b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding eighteen months.

  • R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 218;
  • 2005, c. 32, s. 12.
Previous Version

Criminal Negligence

Marginal note:Criminal negligence

  • 219. (1) Every one is criminally negligent who

    • (a) in doing anything, or

    • (b) in omitting to do anything that it is his duty to do,

    shows wanton or reckless disregard for the lives or safety of other persons.

  • Definition of “duty”

    (2) For the purposes of this section, “duty” means a duty imposed by law.

  • R.S., c. C-34, s. 202.
Marginal note:Causing death by criminal negligence

220. Every person who by criminal negligence causes death to another person is guilty of an indictable offence and liable

  • (a) where a firearm is used in the commission of the offence, to imprisonment for life and to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of four years; and

  • (b) in any other case, to imprisonment for life.

  • R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 220;
  • 1995, c. 39, s. 141.