eggshell skull doctrine
Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
eggshell skull doctrine
A forensic principle based on a largely imaginary possibility. If someone suffers an injury that might be expected to cause moderate but not serious damage, but that person has a pre-existing weakness so that the effects of the injury are severe, the full liability still rests with the defendant. Skulls are frequently much thicker than average, but the eggshell skull is virtually unknown.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005