ABSTRACT
The topic under discussion is sometimes included under the general heading of ‘abuse’ when considering vulnerable individuals. It is important for the nurse to recognize and understand the nature of theft. The principle of theft in criminal law is the same, whether the theft is from the employer or from vulnerable patients. At times, this may pose some difficulty in cases of abuse when breach of the patient’s human rights may include property rights. As the effect is not always obvious until discovery, this offence may go undetected for some time, especially in the case of vulnerable patients. This chapter also considers the grey areas where gifts may be inappropriate. Theft and fraud are both criminal law offences and are best addressed as separate entities from the general ‘abuse’ heading.
