Healthcare Law

The High Court has refused an application to increase a compensation award for a boy who developed narcolepsy and cataplexy after receiving the swine flu vaccine. The court had previously approved the general terms of a settlement agreement in November 2020 between the boy and the defendants, but th

The Law Society of Ireland has urged the government to implement the recommendations of a major review of the management of clinical negligence claims. An expert group chaired by Mr Justice Charles Meenan published its final report, containing 17 recommendations, just before Christmas with very litt

Ronan Hynes, partner at Sellors LLP, calls for urgency on patient safety reform in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The brave and heart-rendering story of Linsey Bennett on the steps of the Four Courts last week brought back into sharp focus the utter human devastation of the CervicalCheck controvers

Two women have been granted permission to bring a judicial review over the length of NHS waiting lists in Northern Ireland. Solicitor Ciaran O’Hare of McIvor Farrell Solicitors is representing litigants May Kitchen and Eileen Wilson in the "first-of-their-kind" proceedings.

Karen Kearney, partner at Cantillons Solicitors, explores the issue of expert witnesses through the prism of a recent medical negligence case. I recently settled a medical negligence claim for a client which was one of the most difficult that I have prosecuted in my career. It involved two High Cour

Marie Kinsella, partner at commercial law firm Philip Lee, welcomes a major review of the management of clinical negligence claims. The much-anticipated final Expert Group Report to Review the Law of Torts and the Current Systems for the Management of Clinical Negligence Claims, chaired by Mr Justic

The independent inquiry into the recall of around 3,000 neurology patients in Belfast has been converted to a statutory public inquiry. Health Minister Robin Swann told MLAs that the inquiry was converted to a statutory public inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 from 11 December 2020.

Two judicial review applications brought over the length of NHS waiting lists in Northern Ireland are set to be heard by the High Court in Belfast early next year. Solicitor Ciaran O'Hare of McIvor Farrell Solicitors is representing litigants May Kitchen and Eileen Wilson in the cases concerning "in

The UK's only gender identity clinic for under-18s has lost a high-profile High Court battle over whether under-16s can consent to treatment with puberty blockers. The NHS Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) based at Tavistock NHS Trust has, since 2011, prescribed puberty blockers (PBs) to so

Healthcare solicitor Aisling Timoney has been appointed as a member of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU) for a four-year term. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced four appointments to the multi-profession health regulator to run until 18 November 2024 following a public

Solicitors have welcomed the announcement of an inquiry into the historical licensing and use of the anti-epileptic drug sodium valproate (Epilim) in Ireland. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced the inquiry yesterday following a meeting with representatives from Epilepsy Ireland and the Organ

The High Court has dismissed the HSE’s application to set aside an Order renewing a personal injuries summons. Background

The High Court has denied an application to vary or vacate a nurse’s suspension order. Background

Ed Madden BL examines a recent High Court case in which the Medical Council applied for proceedings to take place either in camera or in an anonymised manner. In May, the High Court delivered its judgment on an ex parte application brought by the Medical Council requesting that intended proceedings

Flor McCarthy, managing partner at McCarthy + Co Solicitors, explains that statements of truth have been introduced but will not yet be immediately available for use in personal injury and medical negligence claims. Back in May we started a campaign to replace affidavits sworn on oath with a more mo