Act 9 Illustration— Penal Code Act 2008 “A” a surgeon in good faith communicates to a patient his opinion that the patient will not live. The patient dies in consequence of the shock. “A” has committed no offence. 38. Act to Which a Person is Compelled by Threats. Except murder, and offences against the Government which may result in the sentence of death, no act is an offence which is committed by a person who is compelled to do it by threats, which at the time of committing such act, reasonably cause the apprehension that instant death to that person will otherwise be the consequence; provided that, the person committing the act did not, of his or her own accord, or from a reasonable apprehension of harm, put himself or herself, in the situation by which he or she became subject to such constraint. 39. Act Causing Slight Injury. No act is an offence by reason that it causes or that it is intended to cause or that it is known to be likely to cause any injury, if that injury is so slight that no person of ordinary sense and temper would complain of such injury. Right of Private Defence 40. The Right of Private Defence. (1) No act is an offence which is done in the lawful exercise of the right of private defence. (2) Every person has a right, subject to the restrictions hereinafter contained, to defend— (a) his or her own body and the body of any other person against any offence affecting the human body; and 39