Clinical Negligence
Kevin originally qualified as a doctor and practised medicine for 7 years. He is one of a small number of dual qualification barristers practising in the UK, and has held University Teaching Hospital posts in the following disciplines: general medicine, general surgery, accident & emergency, obstetrics, paediatrics, medicine for the elderly, general practice and psychiatry.
Kevin practises almost exclusively in the field of clinical negligence acting for both claimants and defendants. His broad based medical knowledge is an enormous asset. Kevin’s practice also includes coroner’s inquests and solicitors’ negligence claims arising out of the conduct of clinical negligence and personal injury claims. Kevin is also an accredited Mediator.
Kevin is regularly instructed by both claimants and defendants. The following is a description of some recent cases, by reference to subject:
Obstetric and neo-natal management: wrongful birth; IUGR; failure to diagnose foetal hydronephrosis; inadequate CTG monitoring; cord prolapse; excessive use of Syntocinon; shoulder dystocia; depressed skull fracture; inadequate resuscitation; retinopathy of prematurity; failure to diagnose Wilson’s disease; maternal injury including failure to manage pre-eclampsia appropriately, perineal injury resulting in urinary incontinence, PPH resulting from negligent management of 3rd stage, requiring hysterectomy; inadequate consent (following Montgomery) eg. where a Jehovah’s witness was inadequately counselled about mode of delivery.
Gynaecology: vaginal mesh claims (TVT TVTO/TOT); failure to diagnose endometriosis; negligent pre-operative and operative treatment of endometriosis including issues of consent (following Montgomery); failed sterilisation, intra-abdominal injury requiring permanent colostomy.
Minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery: sepsis, organ damage and bowel perforation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy; negligent hernia repair.
Anaesthesia: inadequate anaesthesia, anaesthetic awareness, cervical cord injury.
Neurology: failure to diagnose prolapse of C5/6; negligent delay in diagnosis and treatment of tuberculous meningitis; negligent treatment of extra-dural haematoma.
ENT: negligent mastoidectomy resulting in brain herniation.
Cosmetic surgery: laser eye surgery, face lift, brow lift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, facial fillers, mastopexy, breast augmentation, buttock augmentation, abdominoplasty, Plasmalite (laser hair removal), liposuction.
Dental Negligence: negligent periodontal screening and management; failure to diagnose and manage malocclusion; failure to diagnose and promptly treat caries; failure to diagnose peri-apical and peri-odontal infection; failure to diagnose retained root; inadequate assessment prior to provision of bridge; failure to obtain consent for treatment; negligent root canal treatment; negligent execution of post crown.
Oncology: delay in diagnosis and treatment of carcinoma (breast, colon, pharynx, lung, skin) with complex issues of causation including statistical basis of impaired prognosis, reduced life expectation and material contribution.
Orthopaedics: failure to diagnose cauda equina syndrome; negligent joint replacement (total knee, uni-compartmental knee, hip, shoulder); failure to diagnose developmental dysplasia of the hip; failure to diagnose shoulder dislocation; severe brachial plexus injury as a result of negligent re-location of dislocated shoulder; failure to diagnose spinal infection; negligent micro-discectomy resulting in perforation of iliac artery causing massive haemorrhage; negligent treatment of various fractures (wrist, ankle, hip); failure to diagnose scaphoid fracture.
Cardiology: negligent angioplasty; failure to diagnose acute myocardial infarction; negligent treatment of cardiac arrhythmia.
Gastroenterology: failure to diagnose Crohn’s disease; negligent treatment of ulcerative colitis; negligent gastroscopy resulting in cerebral hypoxia and brain damage; negligent colonoscopy causing colonic perforation requiring colostomy.
Nephrology: failure to diagnose PUJ obstruction.
General surgery: small/large bowel perforation during surgery; failure to diagnose anastomotic leak; failure to treat intra-abdominal sepsis; failure to diagnose acute colitis; failure to properly manage fistulae.
Vascular Surgery: inadequate consent (following Montgomery) where claimant was not warned of the material risks associated with fem-pop bypass, as compared to alternative surgical or non-surgical treatment.
General Practice: failure to treat/manage various conditions in accordance with NICE Guidelines resulting in delay in diagnosis eg carcinoma of the colon, brain tumour, renal failure, melanoma, cauda equina; failure to diagnose and treat various conditions including myocardial ischaemia, transient ischaemic attack, CVA, temporal arteritis, renal vasculitis, acute lower limb ischaemia, DVT, abdominal pain, developmental delay, developmental dysplasia of the hip; negligent prescribing resulting in lithium toxicity and renal impairment, negligent over-prescription of topical steroids resulting in Cushing’s syndrome; negligent joint injection causing acute arterial injury with loss of a digit; negligent ear- syringing causing tympanic membrane perforation.
Psychiatry: wrongful prescription of addictive drugs; failure to diagnose and appropriately treat acute psychotic episode resulting in the homicide of the patient’s 5 year old daughter.
Clinical Negligence Cases
CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE
Daniel Snee and Kirsty May Speakman, Luke Musson, Lucy Musson-Snee -and-Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust
Claim arising out of death of patient who died from septicaemic shock 8 ½ hours after delivery of her second child. Liability denied. Complex expert evidence in obstetrics and microbiology. The claim settled for £296,000.
Mrs SD And Dr Gupta And Others (Confidential)
Claim arising from treatment received over a 20-year period from GPs, practice nurses, podiatrists and vascular surgeons. As a result of negligent treatment over a 20-year period, the Claimant underwent bilateral above knee amputations.
H.L. (Adminstrator Of The Estate Of E.L. Deceased) – And – Liverpool Women’s University Hospital Nhs Foundation Trust (Ongoing) (Confidential)
The claim concerns serious brain injury suffered 90 minutes after birth following a failure to diagnose a congenital abnormality (micrognathia and glossoptosis secondary to Robin sequence). Liability and quantum disputed.
Mrs LF -and Ramsay Health Care Uk Operations Limited (Confidential)
The Claimant is one of a large number of patients who has been left with life-changing chronic symptoms arising out one of over 50 cases of pelvic implant surgery in which Kevin is currently instructed.
Master Jsa (By His Mother and Litigation Friend Mrs S.A.) -and- St Helens And Knowlsey Hospitals Nhs Trust.
The claim arises out of brain injury suffered at birth resulting in very severe disability. Liability and quantum are disputed. The claim is likely to have a value in excess of £20M.
C v Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and others
“Wrongful birth” claim concering the birth of twins both of whom suffer from hereditary spastic paraplegia. The alleged negligent treatment took place in the 1980s and the claim proceeds against 7 defendants – hospital clinicians, GPs and practice nurses. Liability recently compromised the Claimant agreeing to accept 65% of the value of the claim. Quantum valued in excess of £15M.
France v West Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust
The Claimant, a 35 year old lady underwent radical pelvic surgery as treatment of endometriosis. The surgery was carried out by an internationally renowned specialist. The Claimant suffered bowel injury and she required a permanent colostomy. The allegations of negligence focussed on the issue of consent and the failure to undertake a risk/benefit analysis of the various potential treatment options. The claim was vigorously defended. The claim settled for £675,000.
McDaid v Pennine Acute NHS Trust
The Claimant, a fit and active 82 year old lady underwent lobectomy as treatment for carcinoma of the lung. The histology reporting and clinical management was negligent. In fact the tumour was benign. The claim settled for £200,000.
Roberts v University of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
The Claimant, a 20 year old lady suffered from dental mal-occlusion. She underwent 2 attempts at bi-maxillary osteotomy with a poor result. The claim was concerned with the issues of consent and the technical performance of the procedures. The claim settled for £55,000.
Hartley v Blackpool Fylde & Wyre Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The 35 year old female Claimant suffered life-threatening intra-abdominal sepsis as a result of anastomotic leakage following an elective anterior resection. She required multiple further operations and suffered a recto-vaginal fistula, para-colostomy and incisional herniae and she has a permanent colostomy. Breach of duty and causation were robustly denied. Causation was complex, the Claimant arguing that her main injury (the inability to restore gastro-intestinal continuity) was materially contributed to by the negligent delay in diagnosing the anastomotic leak. The claim settled at a JSM for £250,000.
Daniels v Dr Hadoke The 22 year old Claimant suffered injury 12 years ago whilst working as an aircraft engineer in the RAF. He suffered avascular necrosis of the right (dominant) scaphoid and ultimately required a wrist fusion, as a result of failure to diagnose a scaphoid fracture. The Defendant was working as a GP sub-contracted to the MOD. The Claimant had to overcome significant limitation difficulties, the index treatment having taken place over 12 years ago. The Claimant succeeded at the trial of the preliminary issue of limitation. After detailed quantum investigations, the claim settled at a JSM in the sum £310,000.
Fahey v (1) Bolton Salford & Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust (2) Trafford Borough Council. The case concerned a 5 year old girl who was stabbed to death in a ritualistic killing, by her mentally ill mother. Kevin represented the victim’s father in the civil claim, having earlier represented the family throughout the statutory Inquiry which heard evidence over several months. The civil claim was settled for a substantial (confidential) sum, shortly before trial.
Bravo v Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust The 79 year old male Claimant underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] followed by a revision operation. He suffered an adverse reaction to the sternal wires and clips used in the operation, both of which are standard components used throughout the NHS. The case concerned issues of informed consent and the technical performance of the 2 operations. Liability and causation were denied. After lengthy negotiations, the claim settled, the Claimant accepting £75,000 in damages.
Rafferty v Dr Weis Negligent delay in diagnosing and treating the deceased’s malignant melanoma. Liability and causation admitted following service of proceedings. Quantum is yet to be determined. Claim settled for £750,000.
COSMETIC SURGERY
Kevin has been instructed in over 100 cosmetic surgery cases in the past 2 years. The cases cover the entire spectrum of cosmetic surgery including laser eye surgery, face lift, brow lift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, facial fillers, mastopexy, breast augmentation, buttock augmentation, abdominoplasty, Plasmalite (laser hair removal), liposuction etc. Examples:
S v (1) Dr Kramer (2) Dr Alexandrides (3) 111 Harley Street Clinic Ltd (4) American Cosmetic Surgery Clinic Ltd. A novel and complex cosmetic surgery claim. The 39 year old female claimant underwent buttock augmentation with insertion of implants. The claim proceeded against 4 defendants: the operating surgeon; a different surgeon who treated the Claimant post- operatively and the 2 companies responsible for the clinic where the Claimant received treatment. The claim required expert evidence in cosmetic surgery, microbiology and clinical psychology. The issues included the technical performance of the original operation and the failure to offer adequate post-operative treatment together with complex causation issues. The treatment in question took place over a 2 year period, encompassing over 40 consultations. Liability and causation were robustly denied by each defendant. The claim settled, the Claimant accepting an offer of £70,000 in damages.
Raper v (1) Dr Almeida (2) The Hospital Medical Group Limited The 25 year old female Claimant underwent breast augmentation. The issues in the claim against the operating surgeon included pre-operative consent and the performance of the index operation. The claim against the Second Defendant alleged breach of contract, both in relation to the definition of “Surgeon” within the Second Defendant’s standard terms and conditions and breach of section 13 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act. The claim had wide implications for the Second Defendant, a national provider of cosmetic surgery, since it was alleged that the surgeon selected by the Second Defendant and advertised on its website was not adequately trained and qualified. The claim was robustly defended by both Defendants. The claim settled on the first day of the trial, the Claimant accepting an offer of £100,000.
Pennington v Dr Paul McArthur The 56 year old female Claimant underwent a facelift operation performed by the Defendant. The claim concerned issues of informed consent relating to the positioning of the operation scar and the technical performance of the operation. The claim was robustly defended, the Defendant being anxious to protect his professional reputation. The trial took place over 3 days. The claim succeeded and the Claimant was awarded damages in the sum of £30,000.
Simpson v (1) Dr Khalid Khan (2) Optical Express Limited The 36 year old male Claimant underwent laser eye treatment [LASIK (Laser Intrastromal Keratomileusis)] performed by the first Defendant on behalf of the Second Defendant. He was left with a significant visual defect. The underside of the corneal flap had been negligently lasered by the First Defendant before being replaced, producing a contour deformity which was the cause if the visual defect. Liability was denied by both Defendants. Following exchange of expert evidence the case settled, the Claimant accepting £100.000 in damages.
REPORTED CASES
Carr v Stockport Health Authority CA (Civ Div) 23/03/1999 Severe birth injury.
(1) Ann Enright (2) John Enright v (1) Dr Kwun (2) Blackpool Victoria Hospital NHS Trust [2003] EWHC 1000 (QBD) Wrongful birth. Birth of child with Down’s Syndrome following failure to provide appropriate antenatal screening.
Casey v East Lancs HA [2004] EWHC 289 Causation. Delay in diagnosing ganglio-neuroblastoma. Glass v Surrendran [2006] EWCA Civ 20 Extension of time for service of Claim Form.
Hullock v East Riding of Yorkshire County Council [2009] EWCA Civ 1039 Costs.
The Shipman Inquiry Kevin was involved in the Shipman Inquiry over a period of 4 months, representing Dr Alan Banks, an employee of West Pennine Health Authority who assisted the Police in their initial investigation into Shipman, 6 months before his eventual arrest.
Inquiry into the death of Chloe Fahey Kevin represented the father of Chloe Fahey, a 5 year old girl who was stabbed to death in a ritualistic killing, by her mentally ill mother. The wide ranging Inquiry heard evidence over several months and in the Inquiry Report, widespread criticisms were made against the police, mental health personnel and social workers who missed crucial warning signs of her deteriorating mental health.
