“Going weak at the knees - allegedly negligent delayed diagnosis and treatment of a thoracic disc prolapse”

“A negligent failure to perform a costotransversectomy?” The detail of this judgment will be of interest to neurosurgeons and spinal surgeons. However, particularly as the judgment quotes C v North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust [2014] Med. L.R. 189 which gives meaning to the adjectives ‘responsible’, ‘competent’ and ‘respectable’ in Bolitho, this is a useful judgment to have to hand when preparing a report in a case of alleged clinical negligence. 

“Experts fees”

“The expert vindicated”

“What is the purpose of the joint statement?”

This judgment illustrates how expert reports which are properly prepared can assist a decision-maker without the need for oral evidence. It also shows how thoroughly the court will analyse expert evidence as to risk.

“A risky risk assessment”

“Four inexperienced experts on their learning curve”

“Referring to the Protocol gives the game away”

“Beware opining on the reliability of a complainant”