Medical Negligence

I have been instructed in many major medical negligence cases – usually, but not exclusively for claimants. Since 1990, I have been the lead editor of “Medical Negligence” (re-titled “Clinical Negligence” since 2000 published by Bloomsbury Professional), a text which is unique in pulling together the expertise of more than 80 distinguished legal and medical experts. We are working on the 6th Edition due to be published in 2022. I have extensive experience in cerebral palsy cases and where anaesthetic or major surgery has resulted in devastating injury or death and I have lectured, taught and published in this area throughout my professional life and in different jurisdictions including Mauritius, the Isle of Man, Jersey, the Caribbean (Trinidad & Tobago) and Malaysia.

Group litigation poses particularly difficulties. I have been instructed in some of the largest (e.g. the excess irradiation group litigation – Exeter and RAGE) although product liability is more commonly seen with medicines (e.g. benzodiazepines, oral contraceptives) where I am usually instructed by the pharmaceutical companies. Industrial processes are sometimes alleged to be injurious to health and I have acted for Rio Tinto Zinc (Capper Pass litigation), ICI (carbon disulphide), 3M Riker (Flecainide Acetate) and other international companies in toxic tort cases.

I feel strongly that patients who are injured or who die as a consequence of clinical negligence deserve full accountability and compensation for their suffering. Medical professional negligence causes such hurt because of the breach of trust given to the NHS/medical professional: we place our lives and those of our loved ones in their hands. Often it is not money which the claimants seek- it is accountability and the hope that by exposing bad practice, lessons may be learned and other families will not suffer the same or similar fate.