A man was found guilty of manslaughter for causing the death of a woman he treated with flannels soaked in kerosene. The court must determine whether his mental state of recklessness is necessary to establish guilt for felonious homicide. The court must also consider whether the defendant's good intent and expectation of good results justify his acts, even if they are judged as foolhardy by external standards. The court's reliance on Lord Hale's statement in Commonwealth v. Thompson may have been in error, as later cases in England and the United States have established that a physician can be held liable for reckless conduct resulting in death. The defendant's knowledge or ignorance of circumstances may be relevant to their guilt or innocence, but it is not a determining factor in their liability for their actions.

Commonwealth v. Pierce (1884)
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
138 Mass. 165

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