Blog
Administrative Court Overturns NMC Strike-Off: Key Lessons for Regulators and Prosecutors
Jessica Etherington
20 May 2015
Treating with dignity
No-one could fail to be moved by the accounts given in “Dying Without Dignity” the report on the end of life care just published by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. It is a sad reflection of the very patchy nature of the NHS. In some cases, it seems, end of life care epitomises the dehumanisation of health care. The emphasis on process rather than compassion is very clear from the case studies. In one of them, Mrs N is quoted and her complaint is familiar.
20 May 2015
"Choosing Wisely" - better outcomes for patients and doctors
The British Medical Journal and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges have announced a major initiative “Choosing Wisely” aimed at stopping unnecessary tests and treatments. This is to counter a perceived pressure on the medical profession to “do something” at each consultation. There have been calls for medicines for mild raised blood pressure, anti-depressants for mild depression and unnecessary blood tests to be looked at carefully. The Academy is also urging patients to ask their doctors whether there are simpler, safer options. Professor Dame Sue Bailey is the Chair of the Academy of Royal Colleges and is leading this call to arms.
9 April 2015
Haemophilia and hepatitis compensation
David Cameron recently made a public apology in the House of Commons for what was called “the worst treatment disaster in the history of Britain’s public healthcare”.
He was referring to a period in the 1970s and early 1980s in which the NHS did not have a proper screening programme for obtaining blood products, which were often taken from high risks donors, such as prostitutes and intravenous drug users. As a consequence blood products became infected with HIV and Hepatitis C, and over 7,000 people, many of them haemophiliacs, went on to contract HIV and Hepatitis after being given contaminated blood products during the course of their treatment. Approximately 2,000 of those patients went on to die.
8 April 2015
Insult and injury - how much is 'fair' compensation?
Last night, I read two very different stories in the London Evening Standard. The first was in relation to an unfair dismissal claim from a banker, and a good example of our justice system working well. The other story told of a young boy who died in a workplace accident, and left me feeling very frustrated with the limitations of our legal system.
5 March 2015
Can I litigate without publicity? - Anonymity in personal injury and clinical negligence claims
A recent Court of Appeal decision has made it easier for children and “protected parties” (adults who lack mental capacity to conduct their affairs) to have their identity protected when settling a claim for personal injury or clinical negligence.