UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA (UNISA)
College of Law
⋄
LME3701: MEDICAL LAW
Research Proposal: The Resolution of Medical
Negligence Civil Claims in South Africa
Assignment 02 — Semester 1, 2026
⋄
Module Code: LME3701
Module Name: Medical Law
Student Name: [Insert Student Name]
Student Number: [Insert Student Number]
Assignment No.: 02
Due Date: April 2026
Semester: Semester 1, 2026
,UNISA | LME3701 Medical Negligence – Research Proposal
Contents
1 1. Working Title 3
2 2. Introduction and Background 4
3 3. Statement of the Problem 6
4 4. Research Questions 7
5 5. Significance of the Research 8
6 6. Theoretical and Constitutional Framework 9
6.1 6.1 Constitutional Rights as the Basis of the Research . . . . . . . . . . . 9
6.2 6.2 Historical Development in South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
6.3 6.3 The Negligence Test and Res Ipsa Loquitur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7 7. Proposed Solutions and Scholarly Commentary 12
7.1 7.1 Compulsory Pre-Trial Mediation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
7.2 7.2 No-Fault Compensation Schemes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
7.3 7.3 Structured Settlements and Periodic Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
7.4 7.4 Health Courts and Medical Assessors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
8 8. Comparative Jurisdiction: Zimbabwe 15
8.1 8.1 Constitutional Framework for Health Rights in Zimbabwe . . . . . . 15
8.2 8.2 Medical Negligence in Zimbabwe: Current Legal Position . . . . . . 15
8.3 8.3 Comparative Lessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
9 9. Research Methodology 17
9.1 9.1 Sources to be Consulted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Page 1 of 25
, UNISA | LME3701 Medical Negligence – Research Proposal
9.2 9.2 Historical Approach (South Africa only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
9.3 9.3 Comparative Approach (South Africa and Zimbabwe) . . . . . . . . . 18
10 10. Chapter Outline (Proposed Structure of the Dissertation) 19
11 11. Preliminary Literature Review 20
12 12. Provisional Timeline 21
13 13. Ethical Considerations 22
Preliminary Reference List 23
Page 2 of 25
College of Law
⋄
LME3701: MEDICAL LAW
Research Proposal: The Resolution of Medical
Negligence Civil Claims in South Africa
Assignment 02 — Semester 1, 2026
⋄
Module Code: LME3701
Module Name: Medical Law
Student Name: [Insert Student Name]
Student Number: [Insert Student Number]
Assignment No.: 02
Due Date: April 2026
Semester: Semester 1, 2026
,UNISA | LME3701 Medical Negligence – Research Proposal
Contents
1 1. Working Title 3
2 2. Introduction and Background 4
3 3. Statement of the Problem 6
4 4. Research Questions 7
5 5. Significance of the Research 8
6 6. Theoretical and Constitutional Framework 9
6.1 6.1 Constitutional Rights as the Basis of the Research . . . . . . . . . . . 9
6.2 6.2 Historical Development in South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
6.3 6.3 The Negligence Test and Res Ipsa Loquitur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7 7. Proposed Solutions and Scholarly Commentary 12
7.1 7.1 Compulsory Pre-Trial Mediation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
7.2 7.2 No-Fault Compensation Schemes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
7.3 7.3 Structured Settlements and Periodic Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
7.4 7.4 Health Courts and Medical Assessors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
8 8. Comparative Jurisdiction: Zimbabwe 15
8.1 8.1 Constitutional Framework for Health Rights in Zimbabwe . . . . . . 15
8.2 8.2 Medical Negligence in Zimbabwe: Current Legal Position . . . . . . 15
8.3 8.3 Comparative Lessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
9 9. Research Methodology 17
9.1 9.1 Sources to be Consulted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Page 1 of 25
, UNISA | LME3701 Medical Negligence – Research Proposal
9.2 9.2 Historical Approach (South Africa only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
9.3 9.3 Comparative Approach (South Africa and Zimbabwe) . . . . . . . . . 18
10 10. Chapter Outline (Proposed Structure of the Dissertation) 19
11 11. Preliminary Literature Review 20
12 12. Provisional Timeline 21
13 13. Ethical Considerations 22
Preliminary Reference List 23
Page 2 of 25
