Category: doctors

Abortion “pills by post”: approval of procedure not unlawful – Court of Appeal – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 22nd, 2020 in abortion, doctors, judicial review, news by sally

‘The secretary of state had granted a temporary approval during the COVID-19 pandemic of “the home of a pregnant woman” as a class of places for the taking of Mifepristone, one of the two drugs required for a termination of pregnancy during the first 10 weeks. The appellants challenged this decision by way of judicial review, arguing, inter alia, that it was unlawful as being without the powers conferred by the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 21st October 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Teenager’s death after being given antipsychotic was ‘potentially avoidable’ – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2020 in autism, causing death of children or vulnerable adults, doctors, hospitals, inquests, medical treatment, medicines, mental health, news by sally

‘The death of a teenager who was given antipsychotic medication though he and his family warned that the drug might cause him serious harm could have been avoided, an independent review has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 20th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family of NHS consultant stricken by Covid face removal from UK – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2020 in coronavirus, deportation, doctors, families, government departments, immigration, news, visas by sally

‘The family of an NHS consultant who has treated many patients during the coronavirus pandemic, and who is now critically ill with Covid himself, are facing removal from the UK.’

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The Guardian, 15th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Private hospital company was unaware of concerns the top surgeon was hoarding bones – The Independent

Posted October 7th, 2020 in doctors, hospitals, medical ethics, medical treatment, news, professional conduct by tracey

‘The former owners of a private hospital where hip surgeon Derek McMinn carried out thousands of operations on patients was only told about concerns he was hoarding bones and tissue without proper permission last week – a year after an internal investigation suggested they should be told. Nuffield Health, which runs more than 30 hospitals, told The Independent it was unaware of any issues related to Prof McMinn until reports of his alleged behaviour last week.’

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The Independent, 6th October 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Doctor fined £4,000 for carrying out unlicensed circumcision – The Independent

Posted October 6th, 2020 in children, doctors, fines, licensing, medical treatment, news, penalties by tracey

‘A doctor has been fined £4,000 after carrying out an unlicensed circumcision.’

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The Independent, 5th October 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Former trainee doctor in contempt for online campaign against judge – Legal Futures

Posted August 26th, 2020 in contempt of court, doctors, employment tribunals, harassment, injunctions, judges, news, professional conduct by sally

‘A former trainee doctor has been found in contempt of court for repeatedly breaching injunctions imposed on him to stop using a website to harass a circuit judge.’

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Legal Futures, 26th August 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Covid-19 will have “major impact” on £700m medico-legal market – Litigation Futures

Posted July 17th, 2020 in coronavirus, doctors, expert witnesses, insurance, litigants in person, medical records, news, personal injuries by sally

‘The medico-legal and insurance services (MLIS) market had an estimated turnover of £700m last year but the coronavirus will have a “major impact”, a report has warned.’

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Litigation Futures, 16th July 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

The Care Quality Commission: an essential guide to its powers and processes – Henderson Chambers

Posted July 10th, 2020 in care homes, chambers articles, coronavirus, dentists, doctors, hospitals, news, quality assurance, regulations by sally

‘The Care Quality Commission (“CQC”) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England at a time when this sector faces unprecedented scrutiny. However, the CQC’s role and purpose is not well understood. This note provides an essential guide to H&S and regulatory practitioners on the CQC’s powers and procedures in anticipation of widespread enforcement action as the COVID 19 emergency eases.’

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Henderson Chambers, 25th June 2020

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

Ian Paterson: Inquests into ‘unnatural deaths’ of surgery patients – BBC News

Posted July 6th, 2020 in doctors, inquests, medical treatment, news, wounding by sally

‘Inquests will be held after a review found patients of a rogue breast surgeon may have died unnaturally.’

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BBC News, 4th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

GMC Allowed to Investigate Dual-Qualified Doctor/Solicitor for Actions Taken in Legal Practice – Old Square Chambers

Posted July 1st, 2020 in chambers articles, disciplinary procedures, doctors, jurisdiction, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

‘In the recent case of Dr Ogunsanya and Taylor Woods Solicitors v General Medical Council [2020] EWHC 1500 (QB), Eady J rejected the Claimants’ application for an injunction against the General Medical Council (‘GMC’) preventing the GMC from investigating the actions of the First Claimant (who is dual qualified as a doctor and as a solicitor) on the basis that the GMC had no jurisdiction because he was acting in his capacity as a solicitor, and not as a doctor, at the time. In rejecting the application, Eady J held that the allegations, amounting as they did to potential allegations of dishonesty, did fall within the GMC’s jurisdiction given their potential to prejudice the reputation of the profession. That there might be an overlap with another regulatory regime (that of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (‘SRA’)) did not oust that jurisdiction.’

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Old Square Chambers, 23rd June 2020

Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk

Suspension suffices for doctor’s online sexual misconduct – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted June 22nd, 2020 in appeals, child abuse, disciplinary procedures, doctors, internet, news, professional conduct, sexual offences by sally

‘GMC v Awan concerns a GP’s sexually motivated online chat with someone posing as 13 year old child. The GMC’s appeal under section 40A of the Medical Act 1983 was dismissed by Mostyn J and the 9-month suspension imposed by the Tribunal was upheld.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 19th June 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

GMC can investigate solicitor doctor over legal advice – Legal Futures

Posted June 15th, 2020 in disciplinary procedures, doctors, jurisdiction, news, privilege, professional conduct, regulations, solicitors by sally

‘A claim that a solicitor who is also a doctor provided dishonest advice to his clients can be subject to the General Medical Council’s (GMC) disciplinary process, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 15th June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Doctors to file legal challenge to PPE guidance – Garden Court Chambers

Posted June 2nd, 2020 in coronavirus, doctors, health & safety, judicial review, news, protective equipment by sally

‘Two NHS frontline doctors, Dr Meenal Viz and Dr Nishant Joshi, are preparing to file a legal challenge to the Government’s guidance on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This guidance, which applies to health care and social care workers, reduces the requirement to wear PPE and allows for re-use of some PPE. The legal challenge will argue that the Government guidance goes against World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance and puts health care and social care workers at risk, breaching their legal protections at work and their human rights.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 22nd May 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Roberts Case Summary – No. 5 Chambers

Posted June 1st, 2020 in armed forces, birth, causing serious physical harm to a child or vulnerable adult, chambers articles, doctors, foreign jurisdictions, jurisdiction, news, personal injuries, professional conduct, time limits by sally

‘The name of this case may seem familiar; perhaps too familiar given the time it usually takes for matters to proceed through our court system. However, you’d be right. This is the third preliminary issue in the matter of Harry Roberts (a minor and a protected party by his mother and litigation friend Mrs Lauren Roberts) v Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (1), Ministry of Defence (2) and Allegemeines Krankenhaus Viersen GMBH (3) [2020] EWHC 994 (QB) to be determined by the High Court and the second in less than twelve months.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 18th May 2020

Source: www.no5.com

Injunction to prevent a breach of mutual trust and confidence: Smo v Hywel Dda University Health Board [2020] EWHC 727 (QB) – 3PB

Posted May 15th, 2020 in chambers articles, contract of employment, disciplinary procedures, doctors, employment, hospitals, injunctions, news by sally

‘The Court found in favour of the Claimant, a Consultant Surgeon, to restrain the Defendant from continuing a working relationships investigation into his alleged conduct, competence or behaviour, whilst carrying out disciplinary proceedings in parallel. The Defendant’s breached a duty of mutual trust it owed to the Claimant when they decided to embark on a working relationships investigation which was not decided through the exercise of a discretionary power expressly or impliedly conferred on it by the Claimant’s contract of employment.’

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3PB, 1st May 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Is the law of vicarious liability still ‘on the move’? Barclays Bank plc v Various Claimants [2020] UKSC 13 – 3PB

Posted May 12th, 2020 in assault, doctors, news, sexual offences, vicarious liability by sally

‘The 126 claimants in this case were all employees of Barclays Bank who, at the start of their employment between the late 1960s and early 1980s, were required to undergo a medical examination. Examinations were carried out by Dr Bates (now deceased), a general practitioner who was not an employee of the Bank but engaged as an independent contractor to provide this service, and did so at his home. The Claimants alleged that they were sexually assaulted by Dr Bates while undergoing this examination and brought a group action against the Bank for compensation. A preliminary issue was whether Barclays could be vicariously liable for his actions.’

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3PB, May 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Scott v LGBT Foundation Ltd: When Dealing with Personal Information Falls Outside the Data Protection Regime – The 36 Group

Posted May 11th, 2020 in chambers articles, charities, confidentiality, consent, data protection, disclosure, doctors, human rights, mental health, news, privacy by sally

‘In Scott v LGBT Foundation Ltd [2020] EWHC 483 (QB) the High Court held that “a verbal disclosure does not constitute the processing of personal data” under the Data Protection Act 1998 (“DPA 1998”).’

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The 36 Group, 5th May 2020

Source: 36group.co.uk

The Coronavirus and Employers’ Liability for PPE – Ropewalk Chambers

Posted May 7th, 2020 in coronavirus, doctors, employment, health & safety, news, nurses, protective equipment by sally

‘The Coronavirus pandemic is likely to lead to litigation in various forms1; indeed, two doctors are reported to have already intimated a public law challenge to the lawfulness of the personal protective equipment (PPE) guidance published by the Department of Health and Social Care, and Public Health England.’

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Ropewalk Chambers, 4th May 2020

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

Informed Consent: Where Are We Now – Ropewalk Chambers

Posted May 6th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, consent, doctors, medical treatment, negligence, news, personal injuries, Supreme Court by sally

‘In Montgomery -v- Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] 1 AC 1430; [2015] UKSC 15, the Supreme Court held:

“The doctor is therefore under a duty to take reasonable care to ensure that the patient is aware of any material risks involved in any recommended treatment, and of any reasonable alternative or variant treatments. The test of materiality is whether, in the circumstances of the particular case, a reasonable person in the patient’s position would likely to attach significance to the risk, or the doctor is or should reasonably be aware that the particular patient would be likely to attach significance to it.”‘

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Ropewalk Chambers, 30th April 2020

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

PPE & sex discrimination claims – Cloisters

Posted May 5th, 2020 in coronavirus, doctors, news, nurses, protective equipment, sex discrimination by sally

‘The media is currently saturated with reports concerning the absence of adequate Personal Protective Equipment (‘PPE’) in clinical settings. To date, commentators have understandably focused on the extent to which employers may be breaching health and safety legislation by failing to provide staff with PPE and whether staff are protected under whistleblowing legislation if they speak out. Moreover, this month two doctors launched an urgent legal challenge to guidance by NHS England on PPE. In this blog, Dee Masters and Jen Danvers look at a different aspect to the PPE debate, namely whether there is scope for sex discrimination claims arising from equipment which has been designed to fit the average man rather than their female colleagues.’

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Cloisters, 29th April 2020

Source: www.cloisters.com