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) →

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 →

New book on claims arising from sepsis, meningitis and meningococcal disease

In this post Isaac Hogarth of 12KBW discusses his new book 'A Practical Guide to Sepsis and Meningitis Claims', ahead of its launch later this month. Infectious diseases (such as meningitis), and sepsis are terrifying. One of the very first clinical negligence inquests on which I was instructed involved a child who died from sepsis, … Continue reading New book on claims arising from sepsis, meningitis and meningococcal disease →

Neonatal death contributed to by Neglect

Before HM Senior Mrs Caroline Beasley-Murray, Essex Coroner’s Court. Narrative conclusion handed down on 30 July 2019. Rory Badenoch, instructed by Hugh James Solicitors, represented the family of the Deceased, Ennis Pecaku, at a 3-day inquest into the circumstances of his death from perinatal asphyxia at Basildon Hospital. The Coroner concluded that there were serious … Continue reading Neonatal death contributed to by Neglect →