New Judgment: Whittington Hospital NHS Trust v XX [2020] UKSC 14 – UKSC Blog

Posted April 6th, 2020 in appeals, cancer, damages, hospitals, negligence, news, pregnancy, Supreme Court, surrogacy by sally

‘The claimant in this case had a number of cervical smear tests carried out. Each test was negligently reported to the effect that the hospital failed to detect her cervical cancer, leaving her infertile. Before having chemo-radiotheraphy, the claimant had 8 eggs collected and frozen. She sought to have four children and her preference was for surrogacy arrangements in California on a commercial basis. The present appeal concerned the damages payable for the loss of her ability to have her own child. The High Court had dismissed the claimant’s claim for commercial surrogacy in California as contrary to public policy, and held that surrogacy using donor eggs was not restorative of the claimant’s fertility but allowed damags for own-egg surrogacies in the UK. The Court of Appeal found in favour of the claimant. The hospital appealed to the Supreme Court.’

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UKSC Blog, 1st April 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

UK woman wins claim for NHS to pay US surrogacy costs – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2020 in cancer, children, damages, hospitals, negligence, news, pregnancy, surrogacy by sally

‘A woman who wants to have surrogate children through commercial agreements in California has won her claim that the NHS should pay for the treatment.’

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The Guardian, 1st April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Do Medical Practitioners have a duty to disclose Genetic Disorders despite the Principles of Confidentiality? – Exchange Chambers

‘An analysis of the ethical and legal considerations underpinning a decision to inform a patient’s relatives about a diagnosis of a genetic disorder in light of the recent judgment handed down in ABC v St Georges Healthcare and Others [2020] EWHC 455 (QB).’

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Exchange Chambers, 25th March 2020

Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk

Patient confidentiality – to breach or not to breach? – No. 5 Chambers

‘In 2007 C’s father (XX) killed his wife, C’s mother. He was made the subject of a hospital order. He was treated by D1’s multidisciplinary team. In 2009 his care was transferred to Dr O, a consultant forensic psychiatrist. C took part in family therapy sessions through D2. There was a suspicion that XX had Huntington’s disease but he refused to undergo genetic testing. He did not want C or her sister to know. His patient confidentiality was respected by D1 and D2. About this time C became pregnant. In 2013 C tested positive for Huntington’s. C was accidentally informed that XX had tested positive.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 10th March 2020

Source: www.no5.com

Solicitor wife compensated on divorce for career loss – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor who sacrificed possible partnership at a magic circle law firm to have children has been awarded an extra £400,000 in her divorce settlement with an equity partner at the same firm.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK court hears bid to access fertility clinic’s records on dead person – The Guardian

Posted February 21st, 2020 in bereavement, data protection, families, family courts, news, pregnancy by sally

‘A legal action over access to a fertility clinic’s private records concerning the storage of a dead person’s “sperm and/or embryos” is being heard by the family court partly in secret.’

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The Guardian, 19th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Surrogacy: Social media advertising plans prompt regulator warning – BBC News

Posted January 29th, 2020 in advertising, families, internet, Law Commission, news, pregnancy, surrogacy by sally

‘Social media adverts urging young women to become surrogate mothers could be allowed under Law Commission proposals.’

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BBC News, 29th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

East Kent hospitals: Care watchdog inspects trust after baby death apology – BBC News

‘England’s care watchdog has carried out a no-notice inspection of an NHS trust at the centre of concerns over the possible preventable deaths of babies.’

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BBC News, 24th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

East Kent hospitals: Baby deaths ‘could have been prevented’ – BBC News

Posted January 23rd, 2020 in birth, hospitals, inquests, news, pregnancy by tracey

‘At least seven preventable baby deaths may have occurred at one of the largest groups of hospitals in England since 2016, a BBC investigation has found.’

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BBC News, 23rd January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

NHS maternity scandal: Inquiry into baby deaths now looking at 900 cases – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 16th, 2020 in birth, hospitals, inquiries, news, pregnancy by sally

‘The inquiry into Britain’s worst maternity scandal is now reviewing 900 cases, a health minister has confirmed.’

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Daily Telegraph, 16th January 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Liz Earle beauty firm ordered to pay £17k to sacked pregnant worker – BBC News

‘A woman who was sacked by a beauty company when she was eight months pregnant has been awarded more than £17,000 by an employment tribunal.’

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BBC News, 10th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tribunal overturns unfair dismissal ruling against partner – Legal Futures

‘An employment tribunal has ruled that it was wrong to uphold an unfair dismissal claim against a partner in a law firm closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 8th January 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Council rapped over treatment of pregnant woman who was made homeless – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 8th, 2020 in duty of care, homelessness, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy by sally

‘The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has agreed to consider service resources and “the changes it needs to make to work in line with the law” after a Local Government and Social Ombudsman investigation into how a pregnant woman, who approached the council for help when she was made homeless, was left in an unfurnished flat, miles from her support network.’

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Local Government Lawyer, January 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Dangerous’ married man who impregnated 14-year-old girl is jailed for five years – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted December 16th, 2019 in child abuse, children, news, pregnancy, sentencing, sexual grooming, sexual offences by tracey

‘A married man who had sex with two teenage girls aged 14 and 15, impregnating the 14-year-old has been jailed for five years.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 13th December 2019

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Supreme Court to decide if NHS should pay for woman’s surrogacy abroad in historic ruling – The Independent

Posted December 16th, 2019 in appeals, cancer, compensation, hospitals, negligence, news, pregnancy, Supreme Court, surrogacy by tracey

‘Britain’s highest court will hear the case of a woman who is asking the NHS to pay for her to have surrogates birth her child in the US after the health service’s failure to spot her cervical cancer left her infertile.’

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The Independent, 16th December 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Guidelines for judges to divert newborns from care proceedings – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 12th, 2019 in birth, care orders, judiciary, local government, news, pregnancy, reports by tracey

‘Newborns could be diverted from care proceedings if more time is given to pre-birth assessments where there are safeguarding concerns, according to a review published today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th December 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Disgraceful’: Furious families confront NHS trust bosses over maternity scandal as it emerges true extent may never be known – The Independent

‘The full extent of failings by the hospital trust at the centre of the largest NHS maternity scandal may never be known, it has emerged. The chair of the independent investigation into Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust has warned that some records going back more than two decades may have been destroyed under NHS rules.’

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The Independent, 28th November 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Hundreds more cases’ in Shropshire maternity scandal – BBC News

‘More than 200 new families have contacted an inquiry into mother and baby deaths at a hospital trust in Shropshire.’

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BBC News, 26th November 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Hundreds of families whose babies died or have been left with brain damage in hospital to be contacted by trust – The Independent

Posted November 22nd, 2019 in birth, families, hospitals, midwives, news, pregnancy, reports by tracey

‘Hundreds of families whose babies died or have been left with brain damage after maternity care treatment at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust are now being informed they are part of a major investigation into the largest scandal of its type ever to hit the NHS, following a report by The Independent.’

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The Independent, 21st November 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Doctors may face suspension over NHS ‘worst maternity scandal’ – The Guardian

‘Doctors who saw but did not report babies and mothers receiving poor care during the NHS’s worst maternity scandal could be suspended or struck off, the General Medical Council has warned. The medical profession’s regulator has asked NHS bosses for details of any doctor they believe may have ignored their professional duty to raise the alarm about threats to patient safety at the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS hospital trust (SaTH).’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com