In this blog post, Helen Waller of 12KBW discusses the case of NKX (By his mother and litigation friend NMK) -v- Barts Health NHS Trust [2020] EWHC 828 (QB), which involved a birth injury due to clinical negligence. Although it is a case largely based on its own facts, it is nonetheless an example of careful judicial analysis of complex and detailed expert evidence. It demonstrates the importance of the parties and the court having a full understanding of the medical issues in order to properly address both breach and causation.
Who to sue? Doctor held to be an independent contractor in Barclays Bank plc v Various Claimants [2020] UKSC 13
In this blog post, pupils Cressida Mawdesley-Thomas and Tim Goodwin discuss the recent case of Barclays Bank plc v Various Claimants [2020] UKSC 13. Whilst this might more appropriately fall under the definition of an employer's liability case, it is worth noting that this case centred on the activities of a doctor, and therefore it provides useful guidance on who might be the correct defendant in a case relating to medical professionals who appear to be acting as "independent contractors".
Public policy shift in the court’s approach to surrogacy arrangements: Whittington Hospital NHS Trust v XX [2020] UKSC 14
Public policy shift in the court’s approach to surrogacy arrangements: Whittington Hospital NHS Trust v XX [2020] UKSC 14
Falling outside the principles of “pure diagnosis” cases: Brady v Southend University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 158 (QB)
In this post, Henry King of 12KBW examines the limited application of so-called “pure diagnosis” cases in the context of a case where failure to diagnose a patient's abdominal mass as an actinomycosis infection was found to be non-negligent on traditional Bolam / Bolitho principles.
Update – message from the new co-editors
A message from Lizzie Boulden and Charley Turton Dear blog readers, We write by way of introduction and to pass our sincere thanks to outgoing editor, Rory Badenoch, who over the past three years has done a stellar job co-ordinating the blog in collaboration with John-Paul Swoboda. Thank you, Rory. John-Paul remains in post as editor-in-chief. As incoming … Continue reading Update – message from the new co-editors
ABC v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust & Ors [2020] EWHC 455 (QB) Does a doctor owe a duty of care to disclose a hereditary disease to a patient’s child?
In this post Helen Waller of 12KBW discusses Mrs Justice Yip’s dismissal of a claim that sought to establish that a doctor owed a duty of care to disclose a patient’s hereditary disease to his child. An earlier appeal of a strike out application in this tragic case has already been reported on by Rachit … Continue reading ABC v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust & Ors [2020] EWHC 455 (QB) Does a doctor owe a duty of care to disclose a hereditary disease to a patient’s child?
Causation in hypothetical scenarios: the interplay between Bolitho, Bolam & Montgomery
In this post, Christopher Fleming of 12KBW discusses the recent decision in Metcalf v Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust [2019] EWHC 3549 (QB). The case concerned a hypothetical situation that would have existed had the Claimant been referred for necessary investigations sooner. The test to be applied was set out by Lord Browne-Wilkinson … Continue reading Causation in hypothetical scenarios: the interplay between Bolitho, Bolam & Montgomery
The difficulty in establishing negligence when an unrecognised complication arises: Collyer v Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust [2019] EWHC 3577 (QB)
In this post Charley Turton of 12KBW discusses the recent decision of HHJ Coe QC (sitting as a High Court Judge) in Collyer v Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust [2019] EWHC 3577 (QB). The Claimant suffered permanent nerve palsy of the hypoglossal nerves during laryngectomy. In 145 years of the operation being conducted such an … Continue reading The difficulty in establishing negligence when an unrecognised complication arises: Collyer v Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust [2019] EWHC 3577 (QB)
Guidance for Medical Experts
In this post, Daniel Sokol of 12KBW looks at the 2019 guidance of the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges for medical experts. As clinical negligence lawyers, we know all too well that the quality of the medical expert evidence can win or lose a case. Hence the importance of careful selection of the expert (including … Continue reading Guidance for Medical Experts
Memory and the documentary record in cases involving disputes of fact
In this post James Beeton of 12 KBW discusses the decision of HHJ Gore QC (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) in CXB v North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust [2019] EWHC 2053 (QB), a clinical negligence claim involving a disputed documentary record. The case is of particular interest because of the judge’s concerns … Continue reading Memory and the documentary record in cases involving disputes of fact
