Expert Witness medico legal yearbook 2019

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MEDICO LEGAL YEARBOOK 2019

A Reference to Expert Witnesses working as Medical legal advisors "Q and A with Award winning Luke Meleagros general surgeon and medical negligence Expert witness"

WHY NOT INSTRUCT EXPERTS DIRECTLY.....

Covering all aspects of Personal injury and medical negligence including.. Cardiology | Psychology | Mental Health | ENT | Oral & Maxilliofacial | Dentistry | Ortopaedics Spinal care | Vascular | Toxicology | Oncology | Otology | Plastic surgery ..........and more


Q & A With Luke Meleagros No.145 MAY 2016 $21 80 PAGES

Expert Witness –Surgery – Luke Meleagros The saying 'health is wealth' is ever prevalent and so we place our trust in our GPs to correctly diagnose us so our recovery can rapidly come around; nevertheless, this is not always the case and when a patient believes they are a victim of clinical negligence, they turn to the law. We speak to Luke Meleagros, an expert witness in surgery, who outlines the effects of misdiagnosis and how he provides insight to try settle a case involving negligence.

In cases of professional negligence, how long can it commonly take to complete an investigation? In my experience knowing the time it takes between the solicitors requesting medical records and the time that they issue a claim, it can take anything up to 6 months and a year, because the claimant solicitors will have to review the medical records and interview the clients. They then usually instruct the expert to provide them with reports. It is likely in some cases, the solicitor will instruct counsel as well, before they issue legal proceedings they will hold a conference with councils, experts and claimants, and when that is completed, and the case is reviewed, they will then issue a length of claim. It is a lengthy process which takes several months.

I know that you deal with a range of cases in a way, but can you specify a common case you tend to deal with on a regular basis? In general surgery, a common case I deal with in professional negligence are complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, delaying diagnosis of appendicitis, complications of appendicitis, delay of the diagnosis of bowel cancer, complications following surgery of bowel cancer and delaying the diagnosis of these complications.


Can you think of reasons to why there are delays with diagnosis? There are many reasons why there is a delay with diagnosis; for bowel cancer, the patients' symptoms may not be typical. The patient maybe falsely reassured when they visit their GP, who does not appreciate their symptoms are significant and attribute the symptoms to minor ailments, such as piles; piles are very common in the general population and the symptoms, such as bleeding, are similar to the symptoms of bowel cancer. Therefore, it is not uncommon for the GP to not refer the patient to the specialist early enough. Another reason is because the patient is not referred to the appropriate investigation. The statistics in misdiagnosis say that it is possible to misdiagnose up to 2% of colonoscopies. Based on a negligence investigation the patient will then go away, and feel reassured that they have had their definite investigation i.e., a colonoscopy which was negative; they will then treat the patient for a different condition, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which causes similar symptoms as bowel cancer. Thus, a year or two later, the patient returns to the doctor, and reports the same or worse symptoms and the investigation is repeated; this time the cancer would have grown and is usually picked up.

No.145 How often is your critical analysis the MAY 2016 game-changer in a claim? $21 80 PAGES I would say the expert report is crucial to the entire process, but it is not usually the case that an expert provides such an earth-shattering report, that the defendant will immediately put their hands up and immediately accept it; the defendant will always come up with their own report to counterargue, so the aim is to read the settlement which limits the pay-out as much as possible. A game changer I think, is a joint expert discussion; in a situation whereby the claimant and defendant obtain expert reports and provide diametrically opposing opinions on most of the major issues, their solicitors require the experts to hold a conference in order to respond to the disputed area. The weakest argument made by one of the experts is made apparent. Any expert can provide a supporting report and an argument for their instructed solicitors, the problem experts will have will be defending the arguments during discussion. I have been involved in cases where a conference is held with the other experts to discuss the issues; the conference is held within a month of the trial and based on the issues and discussions that arise, the claimant eventually discontinues the case as they realise that the argument that they have provided will not allow

What makes you the go-to expert witness in this field? It is important to appreciate that the solicitors do not have the expert scientific knowledge but are expected to draw conclusions on what happened; the expert has to provide a report that details and explains medical and scientific matters which can be quite complicated in layman's language. More importantly, solicitors need to understand the issues involved so they can ask appropriate questions to explore the issue further and clarify matters for them. I have found that my value as an expert, the reason why I am instructed very frequently is because I can provide a summary of scientific and medical matters in language that can be understood by the solicitor. The other reason I think why I am a go-to expert is because I research this subject and refer to recent literature and quote relevant articles to support the arguments that I provide in my report.

Contact Details Call: 020 8527 0977

l.meleagros@btinternet.com jawdobson@gmail.com


Mr Philip Coleridge Smith

DM MA BM FRCS Emeritus Reader in Surgery, UCL Medical School

Areas of expertise • • • • • • •

Peripheral vascular disease Deep vein thrombosis Spider veins Thrombosis Varicose veins Venous insufficiency Venous ulcer

Mr Philip Coleridge Smith is one of London's leading vascular surgeons. Operating at the British Vein Institute he is an expert in the treatment of varicose veins. He lectures at University College London and has been the editor of the medical journals, ‘Phlebology’ and ‘The European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery’. He is currently President of the British Association of Sclerotherapists and is acknowledged as an international authority and expert in venous disease, including the management of vein problems using ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy and other modern methods of vein ablation. Throughout his career he has treated several thousand patients using injection techniques.

T:0870 609 2389 E:p.coleridgesmith@adsum-healthcare.co.uk W:www.bvi.uk.com W:www.medical-expert-witness.co.uk

The British Vein Institute 24-28 The Broadway, Amersham HP7 0HP


Consultant Vascular Surgeon Professor Peter Holt FRCS, PhD Clinical interests Professor Holt is professor of Vascular Surgery at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. His specialist interests are thoracic, thoraco-abdominal and abdominal aortic aneurysms, aortic dissection, and the management of peripheral arterial disease. Professional profile Professor Holt qualified in 2003 from Imperial College having trained at St Mary's Hospital, London. He worked Charing Cross Hospital, and St George's, for vascular research and clinical practice. During his specialist training he spent two years in Sheffield at the Northern General Hospital, before being awarded a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Academic Clinical Lectureship in 2008 for his work on clinical outcomes research and vascular surgery population health research. This award was superseded by a five-year NIHR Clinician Scientist Award. Further sub-specialist training was undertaken in Adelaide, Australia. Prof Holt was appointed to a consultant post in 2013 at St George's Hospital, and promoted to Chair of Vascular Surgery in 2017. As well as leading on complex aortic surgery, Professor Holt is the Clinical Director for Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular surgery. He leads a research team examining population health and clinical outcomes research across the breadth of vascular surgery, and health technology appraisals. Professor Holt is a clinical expert for a number of NICE Technology Appraisals, and has been a standing member of the NICE Indicators Advisory Committee. Professor Holt has co-authored international treatment guidelines including the European Society for Vascular Surgery Guidelines for the Management and Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, and the Provision of Vascular Services from the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland. His research underpins the vascular society and NHSE specialist commissioning strategic service reconfiguration in vascular surgery, and he was an expert advisor for the 2010 Commissioning Support London CardioVascular Review. Professor Holt is an Expert Witness in vascular surgery, providing expertise and opinion for clinical negligence cases and Coroner's Inquests

Areas Of Interest Covered Include: • Aortic Aneurysm • Venous Thrombosis • Ulceration • Venous Ulcer • Arterial Ulcer • Diabetic Ulceration • Amputation • Aortic Dissection • Vascular Trauma • Carotid Endarterectomy • Limb Ischaemia • Arterial Bypass • Peripheral Vascular Disease • Varicose Veins. 07968 058988 | peteholt@btinternet.com


PROFESSOR BRUCE BRAITHWAITE MChir MA MB FRCS FRCS (Gen Surg)

FOUNDER OF VEINCARE, CONSULTANT VASCULAR SURGEON & EXPERT WITNESS

Professor Braithwaite has been a teaching hospital Consultant Vascular and General surgeon since 2000. He has a wide range of expertise in arterial and venous surgery, including endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and peripheral bypass surgery. He is the Secondary Care Specialist for an NHS Clinical Commissioning Group and was Chairman of a Hospital Clinical Governance Committee. He is a Founding Member and Director of Operations for a National Partnership of Clinicians, Alliance Health Group, for whom he set up the Governance policy. He has been involved in national and international research projects in vascular disease and has published over 60 peer reviewed articles. He has a particular interest in varicose veins, deep and superficial venous disease particularly the outcome of deep vein thrombosis. He runs a specialised clinic for patients, receiving referrals from around the UK and has promoted and pioneered some of the latest treatments for the condition. He is an authority on arterial thrombosis, lower limb ischaemia, varicose vein disease, and the complications of diabetes, including amputations. He has experience in the management of vascular trauma. He currently prepares over 30 reports per year for clients involved in trauma and medical negligence claims. He is happy to be involved in either claimant or defendant activity and can see clients in London and the East Midlands.

PROFESSOR BRUCE BRAITHWAITE Please contact

T: 07967 636 769 (Secretary Dawn) T: 0800 170 7470 E: expert@bdb.org.uk

W: www.bdb.org.uk


Mr Laszlo Papp

MD, PhD, EBSQ-Vasc (2003) Consultant in Vascular Surgery

Areas of Expertise:

My clinical expertise including day-to-day patient care

• operating lists, arterial and venous surgery • Aortic aneurysm surgery • Carotid artery surgery • Vascular access surgery (dialysis) • Under and postgraduate teaching. Currently based in North Wales with a number of notable achievements, including winning the right to stage the 2013 ESVS annual meeting.

Mr Laszlo Papp

MD, PhD, EBSQ-Vasc (2003) Consultant in Vascular Surgery 01248 384303 pl1963@hotmail.com


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Mr Pau

BSc(Hons), MBBS, MRCS

Consultant in Vascular He is responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of the vascular practice across the acute hospitals within Barts Health NHS Trust (The Royal London Hospital, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital, Newham University Hospital). Also Clinical Lead, Vascular Surgery, Barts Health NHS Trust, April 2013 – present and, Clinical Director, North East London AAA Screening Programme, September 2012 - present. He was appointed to a General surgery NTN (LDN/021/023/N) in the NE Thames region in 4/2001. Mr Flora has undertaken Expert Witness training and is on panel as an expert for The Medico-Legal Experts Practice (TMLEP).

Mr Flora has expertise in the follow

• Open Vascular/Endovascular surgery and hybrid techniques to treat vascular disea • Aortic Aneurysms (Thoracic, infrarenal) • Peripheral aneurysms (Femoral, Popliteal, visceral) • Peripheral arterial disease • Varicose veins • Carotid disease • Thoracic outlet syndrome • Popliteal entrapment syndrome • AV malformations • Sympathectomy: Cardiac and for Hyperhidrosis • Removal of complex neck tumours with ENT or Maxillo-facial surgeons, where carotid reconstru • General/Laparoscopic surgery • Hernia repair • Appendicectomy • Cholecystectomy • Trauma • Barostim Therapy: Performed the first Barostim implant surgery in the UK on two patients at the Ro This is a new treatment for patients with resistant hypertension for whom no current treatm • Cardiac Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy • Google Glass to perform vascular surgery. His team was the first to perform an Open AAA and Car procedures using this technology to further the teaching and training experience • CALM study: Use of Carotid stent to treat resistant hypertension


ul Flora

S, FRCS(GenSurg), MSc

r and General Surgery He aims to provide timely, clear independent reports to the medical profession on the back of 10 years of experience as a consultant surgeon. He fully understands the requirements of instructing solicitors, in particular the restricted timescales for civil litigation, the limitation of expertise, and the absolute need for independent, balanced consideration. Mr Flora is happy to take instruction from claimant and defendant as well as act as a single joint expert. He aims to complete the report within 4 weeks of seeing clients Fees and a terms and conditions sheet can be provided on request.

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Memberships: The Royal College of Surgeons of England, Member of International Society of Endovascular Specialists (ISES), Vascular Society, Association of laparoscopic surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. The Federation of Forensic and Expert Witnesses member 2019.

Mr Paul Flora

Consultant in Vascular and General Surgery 116 Harley Street London W1G 7JL Contact: Eli Alfaro Tel: 07340 770730 (Eli Alfaro) Mobile: 07711 670623 Email: paulflora@me.com Alternate Email: thesurgeonslih@gmail.com


Mr John H Scurr Consultant General and Vascular Surgeon - Senior Lecturer MBBS (Hons), BSc (Hons 1st Class) FRCS

Vascular Expert Witness Reports

John Scurr Medico Legal

Whilst the majority of clinical interventions result in a very satisfactory outcome, a few cases do not. In the majority of cases where a patient is dissatisfied the reason for this dissatisfaction may simply be a failure to understand the procedure or the lack of appropriate advice. Very few people start a medico- legal claim with the sole purpose of obtaining large sums of money. It has been possible to identify patients with a significant claim and in some cases claims where the patient has suffered a life altering experience. The first step in conducting a medico-legal case may be to obtain advice from a solicitor. Many solicitors are now experts in this area and will know who to instruct. We are approached on a regular basis by people who are concerned about the validity of a claim and we are in a position to advise both on the validity of the claim and on the solicitor who can manage the case. We are in a position to provide a simple case analysis which will identify the merits of the case and point a solicitor in the right direction. More detailed reports can be provided which are suitable for solicitors issuing proceedings.

John Scurr has had considerable experience in the preparation of all forms of reports, both clinical negligence and personal injury. He has appeared in Court on many occasions and many cases have been seen as highly successful. In some instances a successful case may not involve the Court at all but will involve a satisfactory resolution at an early stage.

John Scurr trained as a mediator and has considerable expertise in the preparation of Medico Legal reports both in the field of clinical negligence and personal injury. For Medico-Legal issues please contact us initially on +353 1 2937863 and medleg2@ eircom.net. John Scurr continues to provide a clinical service. He works closely with Mr Philip Coleridge Smith (another of our Federation members and expert witness) re the management of varicose veins.

Lister Hospital, Chelsea Bridge Road, London, SW1W 8RH Unit 509/510, Q House, 76 Furze Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18 Ireland Area of work: United Kingdom & Ireland Tel: 020 7259 0692 & 00 353 1 293 7863 Email: jhsgroup@hotmail.co.uk; medleg2@eircom.net

Federation of

Forensic & Expert witnesses


Cardiology Expert Witness

Federation of

Forensic & Expert witnesses

Dr Toomas Sarev FRCP, FESC Consultant Cardiologist

Areas of Expertise: I am a Consultant Interventional Cardiologist and Cardiology Service Director at NNUH, Norwich. I cover all aspects of heartrelated problems in adults. I am mostly interested in ischaemic heart disease and coronary interventions. I work as an independent medico-legal expert and am particularly interested in cardiological issues related to clinical negligence and personal injuries.. I am a Consultant Interventional Cardiologist and Cardiology Service Director at NNUH, Norwich. I cover all aspects of heart-related problems in adults. I am mostly interested in ischaemic heart disease and coronary interventions. I work as an independent medico-legal expert and am particularly interested in cardiological issues related to clinical negligence and personal injuries. The waiting time for my next medico-legal appointment is 1-2 weeks and report completion time is 3-6 weeks, depending on the complexity of the questions and issues. I keep myself up to date with CPR. To ensure the best practice as an expert, I have attended workshops arranged by Lynden Alexander and Giles Eyre via Professional Solutions Learning and Development at 12 Bloomsbury Square, London, a course of successful communication at experts’ meetings and preparing to give oral evidence in court and an advanced workshop in writing expert reports in Jan 2017. I have completed medico-legal expert training courses via specialistInfo.com at 218 Strand, London, led by the wellknown Jonathan Dingle and Judith Kelbie; the courtroom skills course and clinical negligence medico-legal course in November 2014. I also completed a refresher in medico-legal expert advanced training in September 2014. I am a member of the Norfolk and Norwich Medico-Legal Society and The Medico-Legal Society of London. I subscribe to their journal and the Medical Law Review.

Kardiostar Ltd

6 The Ridings CRINGLEFORD Norfolk NR4 6UJ 07432 552056 medicolegal@kardiostar.com kardiostar.com


Cardiac sports screening is a difficult path to tread... In a growing area, with potentially high stakes on both sides and difficult judgements to make; professional sportsmen and women (and amateurs competing at a high level in sport) are often screened in advance for underlying cardiac conditions that might put them at risk of sudden death or other problems associated with high level physical exertion. Most of those screened are young and set to embark on a career in sport. The screening aims to identify inherited or congenital conditions such as cardiomyopathy (heart muscle weakness), heart rhythm problems, or rare abnormalities of the coronary arteries that might affect participation in sport. Cardiac assessments rely on the individual’s history (including family history), but particularly on diagnostic testing, especially electrocardiography (ECG), exercise treadmill testing and cardiac imaging. This is a difficult area clinically as there is considerable overlap between cardiac changes due to athletic training (termed ‘athletic heart’) and those due to cardiomyopathy – both can result in larger hearts with thicker walls, and both can lead to similar changes on the ECG. Differentiating the two (healthy changes from pathological hearts) requires an accurate knowledge of what is the normal in an athletic population, what features that are clearly abnormal, and (for the majority of findings that occur in both healthy and pathological states), the probability that a particular finding suggests a pathology.

The consequences of the assessment for both the doctor and athlete are extremely high : the athlete needs to be protected from unnecessary risk; if there is a cardiomyopathy/other cardiac condition, which could have severe consequences if they continued with professional sport. On the other hand, overdiagnosis of a pathology (i.e. being too defensive) could result in the termination of a career as a sportsstar that is potentially worth millions of pounds. Understandably, significant anxiety can occur in the athlete on the cusp of signing a professional contract after years of training, and good communication and sensitive handling are required. Some athletes are reluctant to be tested, for fear of a bad result, and sceptical of the outcome. To add to the pressure, a professional athlete that collapses while participating in sport (which is often televised) can generate huge media and public interest, as several high profile examples can testify – a notable example of this is Fabrice Muamba (the Bolton Wanderers footballer who survived a cardiac arrest during a game against Tottenham Hotspur in 2012). Thus, a robust and accurate approach is required for the cardiologist undertaking an assessment (usually as a result of an initial screening test being abnormal).

T:01865 234 571 E:saul.myerson@cardiov.ox.ac.uk


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The Expert

Case Example: 1) An example of the correct approach involved a rugby player who was tested prior to signing for a professional club, and a cardiac MRI scan confirmed clear evidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This would halt his career in sport altogether, and he was keen for the result to be kept confidential. The club however refused to sign a contract without the results of the scan, and he eventually gave permission for the result to be divulged. As predicted, it resulted in the termination of his planned career (with understandable distress on his part), but may well have prevented his sudden death during a game, and he has subsequently received an implantable defibrillator to protect him from lethal heart rhythms. In a separate and conflicting case, a professional footballer for a premier league club had an abnormal ECG but normal cardiac imaging. His likelihood of a cardiomyopathy was higher than the normal population but still low (<10%), and he was allowed to continue playing. However, an appropriate consultation with him did not occur, and the abnormalities and potential risks were not discussed with him, denying him the opportunity to consider his options which included detraining for a period of time to see if the changes resolved. Unfortunately the individual suffered a cardiac arrest in his first professional game and although he was resuscitated, he suffered significant neurological damage and required lifelong nursing care subsequently. The athlete’s family won a high court case for compensation and ongoing care costs, based on the club’s failure to implement an appropriate process for assessment, and the failure to communicate with the player, preventing his ability to make an informed choice.

Saul Myerson MBChB, MD, FRCP, FESC

Cardiologist & Expert Witness Prof. Saul Myerson is a cardiologist based at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Oxford. His specialist areas involve diagnostic testing, particularly advanced cardiac imaging. Prof. Myerson also holds an international reputation for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and is often consulted about diagnosing particularly difficult cases/diagnoses, and asked to identify the causative processes involved. Mostly receiving direct instruction from lawyers; Prof. Myerson has acted on behalf of both defence and prosecution in the Court of Law and is also happy acting as a single joint witness. His assessments and reports are always objective and focussed on best medical practice. Detailed and objective reports allow for an informed discussion between legal teams, so that a settlement can be reached, usually avoiding court costs.

W:www.oxfordcardiologist.com


Dr Digoarachi Sudantha Bulugahapitiya

Consultant Cardiologist

I am a Consultant Cardiologist at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, Bradford since January 2006. I am dual accredited in General Cardiology and General Internal Medicine with Special Interests in all aspects of Cardiac Imaging, Heart Failure and Cardiac Risk stratification. In my role as the cardiac imaging lead for Bradford Teaching Hospitals, I have been responsible for developing all aspects of advanced echo services in Bradford. I have been responsible for bringing Cardiac CT as a routine investigative modality for possible cardiac chest pain and making it available for the whole West Yorkshire Cardiac Network. I have developed an integrated cardiac imaging strategy for patients with cardiac chest pain with the use of multi-modality imaging, including Cardiac CT, stress echo and myocardial perfusion imaging in patient evaluation. As the Clinical Lead for the Heart Failure Services, I have developed in-hospital and community management services for heart failure patients. I have a keen interest in teaching, education and research particularly using audit as a research tool. I am a Personal tutor for medical students at Leeds University and act as an educational and clinical supervisor for junior doctors. I organize cardiology teaching programs for the cardiac physiologists, heart failure nurses and medical undergraduates. I organize and run a Level 1 nuclear cardiology training course with attendance from across the UK. I have also delivered courses in General Cardiology and ECG interpretation.

Dr Digoarachi Bulugahapitiya Consultant Cardiologist

Mob: 07801 950 385 E:sudibulu@btinternet.com

I have undertaken medico-legal work since my appointment and am happy to provide reports in a timely manner within my areas of expertise. I ensure my learning is maintained and up-to-date to ensure my medico-legal work is accurate and relevant.


Dr Sam Firoozi MBBS (Hons), MRCP

Consultant Cardiologist

Consultant Cardiologist with expertise in: • Interventional Cardiology (angioplasty, stenting) • Coronary Artery Disease • General Cardiology and Hypertension.

He has experience in writing medico-legal reports including reports on clinical negligence.

Memberships:

• British Cardiovascular Intervention Soc. (BCIS); British Cardiovascular Soc. (BCS) • The Federation of Forensic and Expert Witnesses. For further information please contact Dr Sam Firoozi:

Department of Cardiology St Georges Hospital SW17 0QT

M: 07803 345 438 E: emmastroud.medsec@gmail.com F: 0208 711 3573


DR RAPHAEL PERRY MEDICO-LEGAL EXPERT FRCP, DM, B.Med.Sci, BM BS

Consultant Cardiologist & Specialist in Coronary Intervention / Medical Director & Deputy Chief Executive

CONSULTANT CARDIOLOGIST AND EXPERT WITNESS Dr Raphael Perry has a wide experience of general and tertiary centre cardiology and cardiovascular disease.

Since his Consultant appointment in 1991 at the The Cardiothoracic Centre, Liverpool, he has undertaken a heavy clinical workload in his areas of interest. One such area of interest is Interventional Cardiology in which he has been involved in over 8,000 cases. Year after year he has performed the largest number of coronary interventions in an increasing variety of patient sub - groups. In addition, he has until recently been heavily involved in the clinical development of Echocardiography. As a consultant cardiologist, clinical lecturer in medicine and an associate medical director, Dr Perry has vast experience in his specialist field and as such is appointed on up to 60 cases per year as an expert witness. His turnaround time from instruction to completion of a report, depending on the amount of documentation, is usually between 10 - 12 weeks. He is willing to act as a single joint expert with his workload split 60% claimant, 20% defendant and 20% joint.

DR RAPHAEL PERRY

"I have wide experience of general and tertiary centre cardiology/cardiovascular disease. My areas of sub-speciality at the regional centre are in ischaemic heart disease, coronary intervention, acute coronary/ intensive care and echocardiography. In addition to patient care I have experience in managing training grade doctors in clinical research. I have been actively engaged in medicolegal work for more than 20 years and have had specific training in the same. I am well versed in the production of a wide range of medical reports, tribunals and court appearances."


Dr Perry has undergone medico legal training courses with APIL and Bond Solon and has CPD points in expert evidence.

Qualifications

Qualified at: Nottingham Qualifications: FRCP, DM, B.Med.Sci, BM BS

Memberships include:

Membership of Medico Legal organisations (including Registered Expert Witness:): Expert Witness, Your Witness, APIL, The Federation of Forensic and Expert Witnesses I am registered with the NPIA (National Policing Improvement agency) and regularly work for IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission)

Contact now to chat or instruct direct: Ms G Gowing (secretary) Tel: 0151 600 1399 Fax: 0151 600 1254 Mob: 07766 337 777 Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Thomas Drive, Broadgreen, Liverpool L14 3PE Email: raphael.perry@lhch.nhs.uk

www.cardiacspecialist.info


DR. KHALID MAHMOOD

Consultant Cardiologist & Expert Witness

Having undertaken the post of Consultant Cardiologist at Solihull Hospital, Heart of England NHS Trust for the past 8 years, since 2013 Dr. Khalid Mahmood has also offered his services as a MedicoLegal Expert Witness. You only have to look at the extensive academic training Professor Mahmood has undertaken, leading to him achieving qualifications including Mb ChB, MRCP (UK), together with the wealth of practical experience on which he can draw, to appreciate that he has all the necessary credentials to provide a highly efficient, unbiased service as an Expert Witness. In a recent interview Dr. Mahmood told us: “I have over eight years experience as a consultant cardiologist with a wide variety of clinical interests. This has allowed me to gain knowledge and experience of many different clinical cases which allows me to provide critical review of cases where I am asked to act as an Expert Witness.I also have experience in general internal medicine which broadens my knowledge base and helps to review cases in more detail and with wider expertise.�


Dr. Mahmood has been requested to give evidence in as an Expert Witness in court cases on a number of occasions, including those listed below: •

A case which took place at a Coroners Court: Independent Expert Witness - Review of a case of in hospital mortality

A case for which Dr. Mahmood acted as an independent Expert Witness on behalf of the Crown Prosecution service regarding case of mortality linked to alleged medical negligence.

Dr. Mahmood acted as an independent Expert Witness: Medico-legal compensation injury claims - multiple.

Dr. Mahmood acted as an independent Expert Witness in a case which took place in Crown court- Case involving motorist involved in fatal car accident.

Dr Mahmood is involved in advanced cardiology training and teaching as evident in the fact that he has been the Educational lead for medical student teaching; undertaken a Regional role in SpR teaching/assessment, together with undertaking MRCP training and providing a contribution to core medical training for FY1 and FY2 trainees. Also regularly attending international and national Seminars & Workshops, as part of his commitment to continually develop his knowledge-base. As you would expect of such a consummate professional, Dr. Mahmood is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians, a Member of the Medical Defence Union and a Member of the British Medical Association.

If required, Professor Mahmood is happy to provide details of three referees.

TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS FOR AN EXPERT WITNESS CONTACT:

DR. KHALID MAHMOOD Tel: 07795460224 Email: khalidmahmood99@hotmail.com


Dr. Khalid Barakat MA MB BS MD FRCP(UK) PGCert MedSim

Consultant Cardiologist Dr Khalid Barakat achieved an MA in Physiological Sciences at Trinity College, Oxford and completed his MBBS and MD at the University of London. He has been practising as a Consultant Cardiologist since 2004, initially at Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, where he worked until 2016. He was instrumental in repatriating NHS cardiology services from London to a local setting, which was highly beneficial for the local patient population and was very well received.

In 2006 Dr Barakat set up a private cardiology practice – Windsor Cardiology - with his colleague Dr Stephen Rex. He offers outpatient clinics and interventional procedures to private patients in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and West London. Additionally, he was appointed Director of Cardiovascular Simulation at Bart’s Heart Centre in December 2016 and is the BCS National Lead for Simulation based Training. He is in the process of mapping simulation-based learning to the cardiology training curriculum.

Dr Barakat’s specialist areas of clinical practice are: invasive cardiology (coronary angiograms) | interventional cardiology (coronary angioplasty), coronary artery disease (acute coronary syndromes | unstable angina, angina and myocardial infarction) permanent pacemaker implantation and heart failure.

He has an active interest in teaching. For more information please contact Contact Karen Holmes Practice Manager Windsor Cardiology LLP Opening Hours 8.30am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday

www.windsorcardiology.com T: 01753 660845 | F: 01753 662849 | Email: enquiries@windsorcardiology.com


Professor Daniel

J M Keenan

Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon BSc(Hons), MB, BCh, FRCS, FEACTS.

Danny Keenan is a Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. He has a vast experience in heart and lung procedures. He has worked in various roles in the health service during his career. He led several important innovations in cardiac surgery, both within his hospital and nationally. Professor Keenan has the distinction of chairing the first Clinical Reference Group in Cardiac Surgery for NHS England. His experience encompasses a wide variety of professional activities. He is the Associate Medical Director to the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust dealing with appraisal and revalidation and has experience in dealing with doctors in difficulty. As Medical Director (part-time) to the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership in London, he runs the National Clinical Audit programme. He chairs, for NICE, the Indicator Advisory Committee. He was seconded from the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust to the Healthcare Commission and the Care Quality Commission, serving as the National Advisor on Hospital Services.

Areas of Expertise include: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Cardiothoracic Surgery Cardiac Surgery Cardiothoracic Trauma Thoracic/Chest Trauma Fractured Ribs Flail Chest Heart Disease Heart Valve Surgery Thoracic Aortic Surgery Aneurysm Repair of the Thoracic Aorta Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Ischaemic Heart Disease Left Ventricular Aneurysm Mitral Regurgitation Aortic Stenosis

Memberships: • General Medical Council (Specialist Register 1382637) • Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons • Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland • Fellow, European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinical Forensic and Legal Medicine Section: The Royal Society of Medicine • The Federation of Forensic and Expert Witnesses

He has been a highly successful Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at the Manchester Heart Centre, based at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, for over 30 years and was Clinical Director of this large and successful unit in Central Manchester, from 1998 until 2002. He practised the full range of adult cardiac surgery and has been heavily involved in the management of thoracic (chest) trauma, managing closed and open injuries. He is honorary Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery to the University of Manchester. Professor Keenan has also operated at The Alexandra Hospital Cheshire and carries out medicolegal work at The Beeches Consulting Centre, Manchester and in Central London. His experience in dealing with medico-legal cases spans his surgical career. He has been involved in this area of activity, working both in the areas of personal injury but also in the areas of malpractice and negligence. He represents both claimants and defendants and has worked for individual practitioners and Trusts and has appeared as an Expert Witness.

With Rooms in Manchester and London, his coverage is National. Internationally, he works in Singapore.

Please contact: Francesmary Hobbs francesmary.hobbs@icloud.com 07989 582668


ROBYN J.S. WEBBER MD FRCSEd (Urol)

Consultant Urological Surgeon & Expert Witness in Urological Cases Having qualified from the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand in 1987, Robyn J.S. Webber emigrated to the UK in 1989, where she undertook further training obtaining the FRCS(Urology) in 1998. She was appointed as a consultant urological surgeon at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride in 2000, and in 2005 Robyn moved to Fife and is now based at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. She also works in the NHS hospitals in Dunfermline and St Andrews. She is currently Clinical Lead for Urology for NHS Fife. Robyn added: "I have had a particular interest in medical education and training, and during my time at Hairmyres Hospital was Associate Director of Medical Education. Currently I am an examiner the FRCS(Urol) examination, leader of the oral question writing group for the FRCS(Urol) and an assessor for the MRCS examination. I am also a Regional Surgical Advisor for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Having worked for a variety of medical publications in the past 20years, Robyn is able to draw on her expertise in medical journalism and editing in her present position as Deputy Editor of Surgeons News. She is a former editor of Urology News, former editor of SN Global, and a former member of the web editorial team for BJU International. Throughout her career Robyn has taken an active part in the activities of the Royal Society of Medicine; currently being a Council Member for the RSM Section of Urology. In acting as a Expert Witness for investigations Robyn is required to give her professional opinion on: All aspects of urological surgery, urological malignancy, delayed diagnosis of urological conditions, urinary incontinence, complications of TVT/TOT mesh surgery, clinical negligence, informed consent and personal injury including genito urinary tract injury, renal and pelvic trauma and erectile dysfunction.

Writing approximately 50 reports as an Expert Witness per year, Robyn is equally well versed in giving evidence in court. In addition to having undertaken medico-legal work for the past 11 years, Robyn has also been a Clinical Advisor to both the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman, and an independent Clinical Advisor to the NHS.

"Please note that I can only undertake to write a report on the instruction of a solicitor or other competent body," Robyn explained, " If you require a urologist expert report, and think I may be able to help you, please ask your solicitor to contact me."

T: 07915 423924 F: 448701249975 E: robynwebber@nhs.net


CASE STUDY No.1: CAUDA EQUINA SYNDROME: A 30 year old woman with a long history of back pain and “sciatica” attends her GP complaining of worsening of pain in her lower back and tingling in her buttocks. Her GP increases her analgesia prescription. Two days later she attends her local Accident and Emergency Department. Her pain has worsening, and she describes feeling numb over her buttocks and inner thighs, and has difficulty in passing urine. She also complains of constipation. Her constipation is attributed as a side effect of her analgesia, her medication is changed again, and she is discharged. She returns to hospital the following day, in retention of urine. She is catheterized, and has over a litre of urine in her bladder. Neurological examination reveals loss of sensation over the buttocks and inner thighs, and an emergency MRI scan of her spine is requested. This demonstrates a large central disc prolapse at L4/L5 and she undergoes an urgent decompression. Post operatively her residual symptoms include numb ‘patches’ over her buttocks, and continuing difficulty with both urination and defecation. Her symptoms vary, at times she has difficulty in passing urine and may be constipated, on other days she experiences episodes of urinary and fecal incontinence. These symptoms do not improve. She becomes housebound, leading to a loss of her income, and her embarrassment and distress over her bladder and bowel symptoms contribute the breakdown of her long term relationship.

CASE STUDY NO.2: CONSEQUENCES OF A MALE PELVIC FRACTURE A 25 year old man sustained a fractured pelvis following a fall from a motorcycle. He also sustained a partial rupture of his urethra, and has suffered from erectile dysfunction since the time of the accident. Erectile dysfunction occurs due to damage to the nerve and blood supply in the penis following the accident. Although he may have some spontaneous improvement, he is unlikely to regain full erectile function and will require treatment as long as he wishes to remain sexually active. His urethral trauma places him at risk of subsequently developing a urethral stricture. He developed such a stricture 18 months later, with symptoms of an increasingly poor urinary flow. He undergoes an optical urethrotomy (a procedure performed using a special ‘telescope’ to divide the stricture). Within months the stricture recurs, and he elects to undergo a urethroplasty, a larger open operation, which is curative, but places him at risk of complications including urinary incontinence, which may be permanent in some patients.

W: www.privatehealth.co.uk/patientadvice/legal-services/


Chris Dawson MS FRCS LLDip

Consultant Urologist

Medicolegal Work I have been engaged in writing medicolegal reports since 2004. To date 85% of my reports have been on behalf of claimants. I have built up an extensive network of referring solicitors. I have currently written over 500 reports with 130 of these being in the last year. I am regularly asked to provide Fitness to Practice Reports by the General Medical Council, and also "short form"/screening reports for the NHS Litigation Authority and other agencies. I offer a prompt service and usually undertake to return a report within 4 weeks of accepting instructions. I am happy to accept instructions for personal injury, clinical negligence, and condition and prognosis reports. Please note that my employing NHS Trust requires 8 weeks notice from me for professional or other leave. I will therefore require a minimum of 8 weeks notice for any attendance at Court. By issuing instructions it will be deemed that you are in agreement with this requirement.

T: 01733 261717 F: 01733 332561 For any medicolegal enquiries please contact me at chris@chrisdawson.org.uk


Professor Frank Chinegwundoh MBE Consultant Urological Surgeon

Produced medico-legal reports since 2000 for solicitors – by direct instruction or via third parties such as Premex, Injury QED and the GMC (fitness to practice investigation). This includes medical negligence work. 2015 produced over 90 reports which included personal injury and criminal cases where erectile function is pertinent.

• • • • • • •

50:50 claimant:defence. Also joint expert witness instruction. Received international instruction from Hong Kong (2010), Australia (2011), Ireland (2012-15) On the UK register of Expert Witnesses amongst other medico-legal databases. Court appearances averaging three per year 2010 awarded Master of Medical Law degree from the University of Glasgow, after three years of a distance learning programme under the direction of Professor Sheila McClean. Medical negligence was one of the modules. 2018 Member of Medico-legal society 2013 undertaken Part 1 of Cert MR certification. This is a certificate in medical reporting. It is a highly regarded online module created by the leading expert witness training firm Bond Solon. Cert MR - Certificate in Medical Reporting demonstrates to the market that the expert on the Premx Group and Premier Medical Group is cognizant with the Civil Procedure rules Part 35 (Part 1)

2019

Federation of Federation of

Expert witnesses ensic Forensic & Expert&witnesses

London Bridge Hospita | London | SE1 2PR T: +44 20 8851 0849 | +44 20 7036 8800 | F: 020 89269618 E: mail@urologyconsultant.co.uk | E: Kimandrosemary@googlemail.com

www.urologyconsultant.co.uk


FORENSICS INDUSTRY

E-MAGAZINE

AWARD NEWS

Simon Fulford FRCS (Urol)

Consultant Urological Surgeon & Award-winning Expert Witness in cases of Compensation for Post Spinal Injury, Post Accidental Injury, Post Head Injury & Urological medical negligence The Senior Management team of the Forensics & Expert Witness E Magazine are delighted to announce, Simon Fulford as the deserving recipient of the Expert Witness Award for Urology 2014. The Award reflects the professionalism and experience that Mr. Fulford brings to the forefront of medico-legal cases that he is instructed on, as well as the highly respected expert witness testimony that he provides in the court of law.

W

hen it comes to medical negligence and personal injury claims its vital for those in the legal sector to seek the independent, unbiased advise from a professional Surgeon. When it comes to court cases for compensation for spinal cord injury, cauda equina syndrome, pelvic fractures and urological medical negligence cases, Simon Fulford FRCS (Urol) has become recognised as a leading provider of Expert Witness Reports for Barristers and Lawyers on both sides of the case, as well as for law enforcement agencies. Boasting an MBBS Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery from London University, Fellow of the English Royal College of Surgeons,Together with subspecialist qualification in Urology (FRCSurol) is able to combine these qualifications with the wealth of practical expertise he has gained throughout his illustrious career. From his first post in August 1987 as House Surgeon dealing with general and vascular surgery at Dulwich Hospital, through to his current position as Consultant Urological Surgeon at James Cook University Hospital, which he has held for the past 17 years, as he explained in a recent interview: "I am one of twelve consultants in a very busy department of Urology serving a population in the Tees Valley of over a million. I am also Consultant Urologist to the regional spinal injuries unit based at James Cook University Hospital which provides acute and long term care to patients with spinal cord injury from the whole of the North of England. In addition I see NHS , private and medico legal patients at BMI Woodlands Hospital Darlington.

Simon Fulford FRCS (Urol)

My primary interest within Urology is the care of the neuropathic bladder in patients with spinal injuries or neurological disease. I see and manage large numbers of patients with spinal cord injury, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons disease and many other neurological conditions. I regularly perform urodynamic investigations on such patients and offer a full range of management options ranging from ongoing surveillance to major urinary tract reconstructive procedures." Holding Membership to a number of major quality organisations including BMA; GMC; RCS; MPS and BAUS, Simon is also a member of the Teesside Urological Cancer MDT, and also pelvic exenteration for advanced gynaecologica or colorectal cancer. A great deal of Simon's medico legal work involves patients with Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES). The Cauda Equina is a bundle of nerves that lie within the spinal canal below the termination of the spinal cord from the level of the first or second Lumbar Vertebra to the coccyx. It is vulnerable to injury by compression. Most commonly this will be caused by a prolapsed inter vertebral disc but can also be the result of spinal fracture, tumours of the spine, congenital or degenerative spinal conditions or complications of procedures such as lumbar puncture or spinal anaesthetic.


Simon Fulford FRCS (Urol)

On receiving the Forensics & Expert Witness E Magazine’s Award, Mr. Fulford commented:

“I was initially surprised to hear of the award but am very happy to accept it. I regard it as recognition of the quality of the reports I produce and an acknowledgment of the hard work I put in to them.”

CES is the combination of low back pain, sciatica, saddle anaesthesia (loss of sensation around the anus and over the buttocks), motor weakness in the leg(s) combined with bladder and bowel disturbance (retention and / or incontinence) and loss of sexual function. Forming part of the Cauda Equina, the Sacral nerves supply the bladder, bowel, urethral sphincter, anal sphincter and the sexual organs. All of which can be effected by CES. Patients with established CES should be referred to a Urologist with an interest in Neuro Urology to be assessed and helped with their pelvic organ dysfunction. Unfortunately many cases of CES result in litigation for alleged negligence in relation to diagnosis or treatment. It is important that in these cases expert opinion from a Urologist with an interest in Neuro Urology in regard to pelvic organ dysfunction is sought in order to nsure appropriate assessment of ongoing disability, treatment and prognosis.

On his medico legal work, Simon had this to say: "I have been preparing expert witness reports since shortly after appointment and have attended training courses in medico legal report writing. Having appeared in court as an expert witness for both claimant and defendant, as well as receiving joint instructions, I currently receive instructions for approximately six to ten cases per month.

The cases I have reported on include post spinal injury compensation claims, post accidental injury compensation claims post head injury compensation claims, along with urological medical negligence cases and criminal injury cases." As you would expect from such a dedicated professional, Simon is committed to research and development as a means of introducing new techniques: "I have run audits on several new techniques and procedures which include artificial sphincter insertion, BoTox injection and implantation of Invance and Advance male slings. These results have been presented at local, national and international meetings and in some cases published. We have been collaborating with Professor Jenny Southgate of York University and currently our third research fellow is writing up her thesis on the Ketamine Induced Cystitis currently. This is an exciting research opportunity as understanding it may well improve our understanding and management of other painful bladder syndromes. I am therefore working with other urologists, epidemiologists, public health doctors, drug abuse experts and basic scientists to develop a comprehensive study of these patients.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: SIMON FULFORD FRCS (Urol) Tel: 07855312901 Email: simonfulford@nhs.net


MR. SUDHANSHU CHITALE Consultant Urological Surgeon & Expert Witness

Whether acting on behalf of the plaintiff or defendant, when dealing with cases of medical malpractice the Physician acting as an Expert Witness, is one of the most important figures in malpractice litigation. Specialising in Urology, Sexual Medicine, Andrology, Uro-oncology, Paediatric Urology, Female Urology, Emergency Urology and Endourology: Consultant Urological Surgeon Mr. Sudhanshu Chitale is able to draw on his considerable academic and practical training, which led to him achieving a Masters in General Surgery (MS), Diploma in Urology, Diplomate National Board : DNB-Urology, Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Urology (FRCS-Urol), Fellowship of the European Board of Urology (FEBU), together with his extensive surgical experience covering a wide range of areas including: Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostatic Enlargement (BPH); TURP / Bladder Cancer: TURBT; Diagnostic Cystoscopy; PSA Test and Advice; Cystitis/UTI; Kidney Stones / Ureteric stones: lasertripsy / ureteroscopic extraction, Testicular Lump / Pain, post –vasectomy complications , Genitourinary Trauma; is able to provide an independent, professional service as an Expert Witness. Depending upon the case in question, Mr. Chitale is also able to utilise his expertise in Andrology when acting as an Expert Witness, covering the following issues: • • • • • • • • •

Male sexual Dysfunction (MSD): Peyronie's Disease Premature Ejaculation / Erectile dysfunction Male Infertility Vasectomy and Vasectomy Reversal Hypogonadism and Testosterone therapy Genital cancers (Testis / Penis), scrotal lumps Prostate / BPH and all prostatic diseases Adult / Paediatric Circumcision As well as offering specialist advice /services in the outpatient / day case / inpatient settings, Mr Chitale remains available for addressing any emergency or worrisome situations / episodes

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Haematuria (Blood in the Urine) Haemospermia (Blood in the Semen) Acute Painful testis Testicular trauma Penile trauma / fracture sustained during intercourse Paraphimosis (Foreskin rolled back and stuck) Finding of worrisome lump in the testis: fear of cancer Finding of a raised / elevated PSA blood test reading on routine check Acute stoppage of urine (Urinary retention) Urinary Tract infections in men and women Blocked / painful kidney due to stone disease Genito-urinary Trauma inc intra-operative urinary tract injuries to the ureter / bladder Catheter related complications / suprapubic cystostomy insertion related complications

Having completed the Bond Solon Course on Medico-Legal Report Writing, Mr. Chitale has been on the Expert Witness Directory since October 2013, and is extremely knowledgeable in writing Medico-Legal Reports, as he explained: “I have also compiled several expert witness reports and overview reports on breach of duty and causation / prognosis both for defendants and claimants. Mr. Chitale also successfully completed the Expert Witness Course arranged by MPS/BAUS at the RCSE in 2014, as well as having recently undertaken Courtroom Skills training and Cross Examination Training at Bond Solon in January this year.


As part of his continual commitment to research and development, Mr. Chitale has been involved in a number of research projects for which he has been the Principal Investigator (PI). Having led the first ever Prospective Randomised Controlled double blind Trial of ESWT vs sham therapy for Peyronie’s disease (published in BJU Int. in Dec 2009), Mr. Chitale had the honour to be chosen as a co-investigator for two Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) in Urology and contributed significantly to patient selection and recruitment, as well as help bring the studies to completion.

The following two trials have been published in peer-reviewed journals. • •

A prospective randomised single blind comparison of ureteric stents composed of firm and soft polymer: (Multi-centre trial: Norwich, Wakefield, Bristol UK) A multi-centre randomised controlled study to compare the impact of different ureteral stent lengths on patients' quality of life using a validated questionnaire: (Multi-centre trial: Norwich, Wakefield, Bristol UK).

Mr. Chitale has also conducted and published outcomes of several Clinical Audits, one of which has had significant impact on current clinical practice; published in the Journal of sexual Medicine (JSM), this Audit highlighted the link / relationship between Lower Urinary tract Symptoms (LUTS) and Erectile Dysfunction (ED). The high esteem in which Mr. Chitale’s expertise is held within the profession is highlighted by the fact that he holds a post of Honorary Senior Lecturer at the UCL Medical School, London and has been proud recipient of The Top Teacher Award for 2013-14 (by popular student vote when 1100 voted) and Excellence in Medical Education Award in 2015/16. As you would expect from such a consummate professional Mr. Chitale is a Member of a number of leading organisations including: British Association of Urological Surgeons; British Medical Association; American Urological Association and European Association of Urology. All of the above signify that Mr. Chitale has all the necessary credentials to offer a highly professional service as an Expert Witness; including the preparation of Medico-Legal Reports and appearing in Court, in negligence cases relating to cases involving his specialist areas of expertise. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Mr Sudhanshu Chitale Private Urology London 116, Harley Street, London W1G 7JL Tel: 07979 143368 Secretary: urologysecretary.sc@gmail.com Email: chitalenorwich@aol.com Website: www.privateurologylondon.co.uk


MR. WILLIAM STUART HISLOP

BDS MBChB FRCSEd FFSTEd FDSRCSEd FDSRCPS Not only has Mr. William Stuart Hislop BDS MBChB FRCSEd FFSTEd FDSRCSEd FDSRCPS built-up an impressive reputation over the past 20 years working as a Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock and now at the Queen Elizebeth University Hospital in Glasgow but he is also fast becoming acknowledged as a highly experienced, reliable Expert Witness; carrying out around thirty reports per year for both defence and prosecution, as well as producing reports for injury and negligence cases. Having gained a Medical Degree from Bristol University in 1987 and a Dental Degree from Dundee University in 1978, Mr. Hislop is able to combine his extensive academic training with the practical experience he has gained working at the cutting-edge of surgery in Scotland. Specialising in head and neck ablative and reconstructive surgery for malignancy, salivary gland surgery, together with facial aesthetic and cancer surgery, Mr. Hislop is highly experienced in dealing with facial trauma; having carried out over 500 microvasular cases in his career. Mr. Hislop added: "Within the west of Scotland I also carry out surgical dermatology for skin cancer and deal with facial trauma, as well as dental implants and dento alveolar surgery. I also have previous experience in orthognathic and tempopro mandibular joint surgery." The diagnosis of skin cancer and its corresponding treatment has recently come under new guidelines. Individuals must now be seen within two weeks of the identification of a suspicious ulcer. Keeping up to date with changes in legislation and medical procedures, Mr. Hislop is aware that this may represent a fresh challenge to the medico-legal work of expert witnesses.

A Member of the British Medical Association; British Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons and the British Association of Head & Neck Oncologists, Dr. Hislop has undertaken the position of Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow for more than two decades. In a recent interview Dr Hislop outlined what it takes, in his opinion, to provide the very best service as an Expert Witness: "When being called upon to act as an Expert Witness there is no substitute for experience and obtaining extra qualifications. Experience allows work place gathering of information over a career lifetime that informs decision making. This can be used in the clinic operating room or courtroom. Extra qualifications show that reading and gathering of knowledge in the specialist area has been undertaken. This means that all clinical; and legal decisions are underpinned by a thorough knowledge of the specialist area."

Medico-legal Practice


"It's vital to instruct an Expert Witness at the beginning of an investigation/legal case, as this allows the expert to be available for advice from the start. There are numerous cases that are unlikely to be successful and having the expertise initially may save clients time and money." "I currently carry out approximately thirty MedicoLegal Reports per year for both defence and prosecution, attending court once a year on average. It is important when being instructed that you do not forget that you act for the court and giving a balanced report reduces the need for court attendance. I work for the prosecution and defence equally." "Being involved before the case has been submitted to the courts has proved to be very helpful. One of the common problems I see is the uncertainty as to whether the matter is a failure in the duty of care by lack of consent or by negligence."

Case Study: "I was asked to see a lady who had a weak lower lip following a facelift. This can happen and she was warned about it. The surgeon them offered her a muscle transposition operation to try and get function into her lip. The operation did not go well and she was left with a weak tongue and slurred speech. She wished to make a claim on the grounds of lack of consent when in fact the complication was so rare it would have not been reasonable to mention it. However the injury should not have happened and there was a failure in the duty of care whilst carrying out the procedure. The expert intervention meant that the case was submitted under the correct terms and was settled without a court case." Having published over 30 publications in peer reviewed journals throughout his career, Dr. Hislop would like to further develop the Medico-Legal side of his practice and would be pleased to discuss your individual requirements for an Expert Witness.

For further information, please call Mr. William Stuart Hislop on 01563 827 488 or email medico-legal enquiries to: stuarthislop@supanet.com


Mr. Robert Hensher FRCS FDSRCS

Consultant Oral & Maxillo-Facial Surgeon

Mr. Robert Hensher has undertaken broad training in orthopaedics, casualty, general and vascular surgery and held Senior Registrar positions at Westminster & Queen Mary’s Roehampton Hospitals, and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children together with University College Hospital. He was employed in the role of Consultant Oral & Maxillo-Facial (OMF) Surgeon to Gloucester Cheltenham & Cirencester Hospitals in 1986 – 2000. Whilst in this role, Mr. Hensher had a special interest in jaw surgery and pioneered TMJ Replacement, for which he now has a national and international reputation. Mr. Hensher has written chapters in standard text books and numerous professional papers and was one of the first non-American Surgeons to be invited to join the American Society of TMJ Surgeons. In a recent interview, Mr. Hensher explained that: “experience is vital as one’s advice and opinions improve in depth and veracity with repetition and learning. Qualifications give access to posts in the training grades and indicate the level of professional education obtained; however they do not indicate the experience an individual has gained.” Mr. Hensher attends court as an Expert Witness relatively infrequently at present, about once or twice a year, although this is increasing. He accepts instructions which require him to examine and report on patients about equally for prosecution, defence and on a single expert basis. “Early engagement of an expert usually saves time and money,” explained Mr. Hensher. “Of course, discussion may subsequently take place, but a senior opinion at the outset sets the tone and (should raise) the relevant points.”


As an expert, Mr. Hensher has received instructions and reported on the following example cases: • • • •

Failed TMJ Prostheses; joints were constructed by the inserting surgeon. Failed bone grating and TMJ prosthesis post trauma. Death by post operative haemorrhage (HM Coroner’s Inquest). Death post cancer resection (HM Coroner’s Inquest, scheduled for Dec 2015).

Mr. Robert Hensher is a founding member of The Association of Dental Implantology and The British Association of TMJ Surgeons. He is also a member of The American Association of TMJ Surgeons and a Fellow to The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

The Hospital The King edward vii Beaumont Street London W1G 6AA 02074673236 For further information, please call Mr. Robert Hensher on 02074673236, email medico legal enquiries to roberthensher@kingedwardvii.co.uk / jackiesorrell@kingedwardvii.co.uk


Professor Paul Tipton B.D.S., M.Sc., D.G.D.P., UK Specialist in Prosthodontics & Expert Witness London | Manchester

Professor Paul Tipton is a leading authority in UK Dentistry. Regularly featured in the Dentistry’s Top 50 Most Influential People in Dentistry, he has been a pioneering figure in the industry. In addition to being a specialist in Prosthodontics since 1999, he has been in private practice for over 30 years and is currently Clinical Director of T Clinics in Manchester and London. A keynote speaker at dental conferences around the world, Professor Tipton has lectured at home and abroad throughout his professional life including Australia, the US, Dubai, South Africa, Singapore and India. He is the founder of Tipton Training Ltd which has seen over 3500 UK dentists pass through many of his one year courses in Restorative, Aesthetic and Implant Dentistry. Professor Tipton has assembled a team of dental expert witnesses who work with him at T Clinics nationwide. All areas of Dentistry are covered including General Dentistry, NHS and Private, Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry, Implantology, Oral Surgery, Orthodontics, Periodontics and Endodontics. Experts range from experienced Private Practitioners to those with Masters degrees that limit their practice to special areas of Dentistry, to Specialists, Consultants and Professors and span across the whole of the UK. All experts write the highest quality of reports in all fields ranging from Personal Injury to Road Traffic Accidents to Clinical Negligence.

T:07786327978 | E:rachael@drpaultipton.co.uk W:www.drpaultipton.com | www.tclinic.co.uk 1. Throughout your years of experience as an expert, what common mistakes do other dental professionals make which does have the potential to lead to losses: Most of the common negligence cases that we see in dentistry are to do with periodontal disease and lack of diagnosis and lack of treatments which has in turn led to tooth loss and then the need to replace the teeth, usually with dental implants. Dental implants are a very costly treatment and usually not available in the health service and often should the negligence have led to loss of many teeth then treatment cost can be in the region of £50,000 in order to replace these missing teeth with implants. The second most common cause of negligence is then due to tooth extraction where it has not been explained to the patient that there are other options which could lead to the tooth being saved. The patient is then not fully informed of other treatment options and if they had been fully informed they would have taken another route which would have led to the tooth being treated. Again, once the tooth has been removed the usual replacement is with the dental implant and a single tooth replacement is often in the region of £3,000 to £4,000. The newer types of dental negligence which we are seeing more and more is to do with complex treatments for which the dental practitioner is either inadequately trained or he has not given the patient a reasonable estimate of the costs and the outcome together with the pros and cons of such treatment. Here the more expensive treatments include dental implants, cosmetic dentistry with veneers, etc., and also short-term orthodontics.


Patients are very often disappointed when having veneers or crowns placed that the end result does not match their expectations which can again then lead to a claim. Most dentists often do not complete enough diagnostic work in advance of treatment so that the end result can be easily previewed by patients and amended as required. Dental implants have a failure rate and this is often overlooked when placing dental implants. The expected failure rate has always been in the region of 5% in the lower jaw and 10% in the upper jaw. More recently, however, there is peri-implantitis disease which has led to an increase in the failure rates in some patients. Again this is often overlooked during the treatment planning stage. The patients are on the assumption that their implants will last them a lifetime. Short-term Orthodontics can not only improve the patient’s appearance but can also provide problems with the patient’s bite in the long term and this can lead to claims due to poor function or to problems with the bite leading to problems with the temporomandibular joints and treatment being required in order to treat the temporomandibular joints.

2. How have you seen dental education change over the years? Do you think that this has affected the occurrence of legal cases? Dental education has changed massively over the years and I have been involved in it very closely with my company Tipton Training. We have trained dentists over the last 20 years both in the UK and abroad in some of the complex issues of the newer techniques in dentistry. Due to government cutbacks and lack of funding, often now some of the newer graduates are graduating from dental school without basic knowledge and without having performed some of the basic dental tasks in sufficient numbers to be proficient. This then leads to a lack of confidence on the dentist’s part which can be reflected in the quality of treatment that is provided.

3. How would you deal with negligence, whiplash and general accident cases differently? Do any of those have different requirements when producing a medicolegal report? Negligence cases take the most amount of time and are often very, very complex involving multiple dentists over a period of time during which the patient was treated. This is especially so in the area of periodontal disease where lack of care, lack of treatments and diagnoses may have been going on for a decade or more and the patient has seen multiple dentists or who have continued to non-diagnose the disease process and to not treat it which is kind of complex then to apportion the negligence percentage to each of the dentists involved in the case. The most important factor which is often overlookedby some experts is the issue of causation and understanding that it is then not enough just to deal with liability for the case to have merit. General whiplash and accident cases are far more easy and are reflected in the fact that the reports are cheaper to produce and are often of a more factual nature.


Dr Katharine Winstone PHD, BDS

Expert Witness Qualifications: PHD (Doctorate - London University 1986), BDS (Batchelor of Dental Surgery London University 1980)

Details: I have owned and worked in a mixed NHS and private general dental practice with my husband for 35years following post graduate training as a house officer and registrar and a PHD in Pathology. I regularly run postgraduate dental courses on treatment planning and aspects of restorative dentistry. I have provided over 430 reports since starting dents-legal work in 2007 in about equal numbers for defendants and claimants. I have been called as a witness at the General dental Council on more than 8 occasions, been involved in many case conferences and joint expert conferences and been appointed as single expert for the Court.

Training: Bond Solon Court Skills - 2009 London Bond Solon - Writing Expert Witness Reports - Manchester 2008 Cross Examination Skills – Bond Solon 2011 Certificate in Civil Procedure Rules - Bond Solon 2011 Bond Solon Expert witness Conference 2012, 2013, 2015 The Dental Protection Conference 2017

Membership: Royal College of Surgeons – Faculty of General Dental Practitioners British Society of Periodontology Vice-Chair Board of Trustees of Gravesend Grammar School Trust Trustee of the Kent Cancer Trust

Dr Katharine Winstone

New Ash Green Dental Centre Meadow Lane New Ash Green Longfield Kent DA3 8PR

t: 01474 879 800 f: 01474 873 495 e: katharinewinstone@mac.com


Dr B David Cohen Specialist Endodontist and Accredited Expert Witness

PhD MSc BDS MFGDP LDSRCS CUEW MEWI CertMR

I have now been preparing expert witness reports for over 30 years, having prepared over 2000 of them. Most of these have been completed in the last 7-10 years since the Woolf reforms, and following my formal training on the Cardiff University Expert Witness Certification course. I am trained to be involved in acting as an expert witness on behalf of the court, appointed by either claimant or defendant, and as a single joint expert. My training and experience also include court/ tribunal procedures, and cross examination. Endodontics clinical negligence My specific area of expertise in clinical negligence cases is that of endodontics (root canal treatment/ therapy). I have prepared reports for both claimants and defendants

Personal Injury Cases

Dr Cohen prepares condition and prognosis reports for facial and dental injuries caused by:

• Accidents • Slip and trips • Road traffic accidents • Accidents at work • Sports accidents • Endodontic problems inc. clinical negligence DENTO-LEGAL SERVICES Correspondence address

122 Hilton Lane Prestwich Manchester M25 9QX dento-legal@endodontistmanchester.co.uk www.endodontistmanchester.co.uk Phone: 07000 665277

Consultations are available in: Manchester | Nottingham | Crewe & Gibraltar


Mr. AJ Ray-Chaudhuri

BDS MFDS RCSEd MJDF RCSEng LLM AFHEA FDS RCSEng

Accredited Expert Witness in Dentistry

AJ has 15 years of experience as a dentist and continues to work in the filed of dentistry. He is an NHS Consultant and Head of a department of Restorative dentistry as well as working in private practice. AJ is actively involved in postgraduate education and lectures locally, regionally and nationally.

He is recognised by the GDC as a specialist in four fields:

• Restorative Dentistry • Periodontics • Endodontics • Prosthodontics

AJ has a Master’s degree in Law from Cardiff University and has completed his Bond Solon Expert Witness training AJ undertakes over 100 reports per year on behalf of both Defendants and Claimants. For further information please visit the website or contact us directly

aj@advancedrestorativecare.com www.advancedrestorativecare.com


Dr Pallavi Latthe MB ChB MD FRCPath

Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Subspecialist Urogynaecologist Dr Pallavi Latthe is an accredited subspecialist in Urogynaecology based in Birmingham, and is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Birmingham Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. She is the Clinical Lead in Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology and Urogynaecology at her NHS hospital. She trained in the UK and India, with travelling fellowships to the Cleveland Clinic, Florida and Neijmehen, Netherlands. During training, she gained experience in all areas of obstetrics and gynaecology.

Dr Latthe can provide expert witness reports +/- evidence in the following areas: • Gynaecology • Obstetrics with special interest in urinary incontinence • Prolapse • Episiotomy • Obstetric anal sphincter injury • Surgical complications She has published many scientific papers and written two books. She has presented her research both at national and international conferences. She is on the childrens education committee of the International Continence Society and the research committee of International Urogynecology Association.

She is the secretary of the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology.

Contact address: BMI Priory Hospital Priory Road Birmingham B5 7UG

0121 472 1377 extension 5424 07763 174502 pallavi@doctors.org.uk


Mr Richard Matthews

MB BS(London) FRCS(Eng) FRCS(Edin)MAE Consultant Cosmetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon

Member of The Academy of Experts and a founder member and former President of the Warwickshire Medico-Legal Society, Mr Matthews has great experience in preparing Medical Reports for Solicitors for clients who have suffered personal injury, frequently taking instruction on a Single Joint Medical Expert basis. He also provides professional advice in cases of alleged medical negligence within his sphere of medical expertise. Personal Injury

Issues associated with:

All soft tissue injuries of the upper limb and hand Soft tissue injuries of the face Soft tissue injuries of the body Scarring Burns, scalds and thermal injuries Clinical Negligence Issues associated with: Soft tissue damage from trauma, including burns, scalds & thermal injuries Soft tissue damage from disease Tissue loss &/or scarring arising from medical or surgical actions Skin Cancer Surgery General Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Cosmetic Surgery

Professional Memberships, Fellowships & Registrations The Academy of Experts UK Register of Expert Witnesses The Federation of Forensic & Expert Witnesses British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) British Association of Aesthetic Surgeons (BAAPS) British Society for Surgery of The Hand (BSSH) British Burn Association (BBA) Royal College of Surgeons of England Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh General Medical Council (GMC) Specialty Register for Plastic Surgery Professional Indemnity: The Academy of Experts


Mr Richard Matthews is a highly experienced Consultant Cosmetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon. After qualifying as a Doctor at St Thomas Hospital Medical School in London, Mr Matthews trained widely in General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Urology and Paediatric Surgery before commencing his career in Plastic Surgery, progressing through five Regional Centres for Burns & Plastic Surgery, absorbing the art and craft of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. This included two years as Burns Research Fellow at the renowned Queen Victoria Hospital and Blond-McIndoe Research Centre at East Grinstead, during which he had notable papers published on the management of burns in pregnancy and the use of amniotic membranes for wound healing. He became fully accredited in Plastic Surgery, including Cosmetic and Reconstructive aspects, in 1984, was European Travelling Scholar of The British Association of Plastic Surgeons (now called BAPRAS) in 1985 and was appointed Consultant Plastic Surgeon in the National Health Service for Coventry & Warwickshire (catchment: 1 million) in 1986. From 1986 to 2006, when, as Head of the Unit, he effected its transfer to the new University Hospital for Coventry & Warwickshire, he radically modernised and expanded the Plastic Surgery Unit, introducing modern techniques and services for congenital abnormalities, such as cleft lip & palate and abnormal hands, for soft tissue diseases of the hand, such as Dupuytren’s contracture, for Breast Reconstruction and Head and Neck Reconstruction in cancer cases, including microsurgical procedures, and worked hard to improve standards of care for skin cancer. He served for four years as the first Chair of the Skin Cancer Site Specific Group of the Arden Cancer Network.

Mr Matthews has been West Midlands Regional Chair for Burns & Plastic Surgery and Regional Specialty Advisor to the Royal College of Surgeons of England and has served variously as Clinical and Medical Director within the NHS. Mr Matthews has over 30 years’ experience as an Expert Witness in his specialist field, preparing on average 60 Medical Reports a year, 40% instructed by the Claimant’s solicitor, 40% instructed by the Defendant’s solicitor and 20% as a Single Joint Expert. Mr Matthews keeps up to date by attending Professional Association meetings and other CPD events, such as The Academy of Experts one day Seminars, as well as reading relevant Journals and the ‘Your Witness’ newsletter of the UK Register of Expert Witnesses. His election to The Academy of Experts recognised his wealth of experience and expertise.

T:: 01926 436341 fax: 01926-422659 E: Sally.Bates@nuffieldhealth.com W:www.richardmatthewsplasticsurgeon.co.uk


Mr Fortune Iwuagwu

Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgeon. On finishing his basic surgical training, Mr Iwuagwu embarked on training in all aspects of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery in various internationally recognised units in the country including Billericay (now Chelmsford), Manchester, Nottingham and Bristol. He furthered his training in his chosen subspecialty (Hand Surgery) as the British Society of Surgery of the Hand Fellow in the highly reputable Hand Unit in Chelmsford. He later undertook a Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship in the world recognised Kleinert and Kutz Hand Surgery Centre, Louisville , Kentucky USA where he trained under Dr Harold Kleinert recognised as one of the fathers and pioneers of modern hand surgery. Mr Iwuagwu was appointed a Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgeon at the St Andrews Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford and the Whipps Cross University Hospital, London in 2002. St Andrew’s centre is the regional centre for plastic surgery and has one of the busiest hand trauma units in the country dealing with all aspect of hand trauma and post trauma sequelae.

His main interests are: * Hand trauma * Post hand trauma reconstruction * Breast reconstruction and scars

Special interests: * * * * *

Scars Burn scars Hand injuries Soft tissue reconstruction Cosmetic surgery

He also performs a significant amount of general plastic surgery.

Qualifications MBBS University of Nigeria 1986 MSc University College London 1996 FRCS Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 1993 FRCS Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow 1993 FRCS (Plast Surgery) Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 2000


Medico-legal Experience: Mr Iwuagwu has been preparing medico-legal reports for medico-legal agencies and solicitors for more than 14 years. He prepares approximately 100 medical reports a year. The distribution is approximately claimant (80%) to defendant (20%). From instruction to completion of report is approximately three weeks if the client and medical records are available for examination/review. Mr Iwuagwu has undertaken specialist expert witness training. Mr Iwuagwu has attended the Bond Solon course - Excellence in Report writing Written Evidence in June 2011 and, the Premex annual Clinical Negligence seminar in June 2016. Essex, London and Nationwide

Membership * * * * * *

British Society for Surgery of the Hand, British Association of Plastic,Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, Expert Witness Institute, Society of Expert witnesses, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), The Federation of Forensic and Expert Witnesses

Please contact Lisa for further information T: 01277 219752 | M: 07508 824858 | F:01277 219752 Email: austingracesuk@aol.com | Website: www.austingraces.com


Hand & Wrist Surgery by Stephen Lips

Stephen is an Orthopaedic Upper Limb Surgeon with a specialist interest in hand and wrist surgery, training and working within the Mersey deanery having merited an honours degree at Liverpool Medical School. The majority of his orthopaedic surgical experience involves upper limb surgery, having finalised his training with one of the few nationally recognised advanced training post fellowships in hand/wrist surgery and successfully completing the British diploma in hand surgery. His surgical practice includes traumatic injuries to the upper limb and elective hand/wrist surgery including nerve disorders.

Mr Stephen Lipscombe | BSc, MBChB, FRCS, DipH 01925 598217 | stephen.lipscombe@consultantcare


scombe

HS | Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon e.com | www.privatehandsurgeon.co.uk


Mr Abraham Odumala MBBS, M.Med Sci, FWACS, FRCS, FRCS (Tr & Orth)

Consultant Orthopaedic and Upper Limb Surgeon

Mr Abraham Odumala is a Consultant Orthopaedic and Upper Limb Surgeon based in Barnsley. He was appointed as a Consultant in May 2010. He is a Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield. He is also involved in trauma with on call responsibilities for twenty years and has particular interest in fracture management.

He has expertise in:

All upper limb conditions Injuries (including soft tissue sports injuries) and treatment. Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand injuries. Specialist interest in enhanced recovery in shoulder arthroscopy. Involved in design of information leaflets so patients can get the best result from their treatment. Mr Odumala has medico-legal experience with a split of work of Claimant 90% and Defendant 10%. He produces 120-150 reports per year and has appeared in court. Urgent reports are available within 72 hours. Desktop reports are also available. Waiting time for next Medico-Legal appointment: 2-4 weeks Waiting time from appointment to report: 10 working days

Appointment locations:

Barnsley South Yorkshire including Sheffield and within 25 miles radius (Leeds to Nottingham). Weekend visits undertaken. Terms and Conditions: (Please include payment fees and terms of payment) £300 per consultation including report (Personal Injury) £50 for review of medical reports £50 fee for non-attendance-including cancellations made within 24 hrs of appointment Medical negligence (£1500-£2500) dependent on complexity. Prison /Home Fee: Extra £250 plus 25 per mile form Sheffield Weekend Fee: Extra £250

Please contact Mr Odumala for more information 01226 434 594 | 07799 164 952 | 07747 698 936 (Secretary) | aoupperlimb@aol.com


Mr Imran Liaquat MBChB, BSc, MedSci, FRCSEd (Neuro.Surg) Med

Consultant Neurosurgeon I have been a Consultant Neurosurgeon for 5 years and have a long established track record in head injury/ traumatic brain injury management and research. Roughly 50% of my workload is with management of spinal problems such as back pain, neck pain, sciatica and arm pain (brachalgia). In addition, I am the clinical lead for adult neuro-oncology/brain tumours and the National Lead for the Scottish Neuro-oncology Network. I am an active member of the Scottish Adult Brain Injury Network (SABIN) and responsible for reconfiguring the rehabilitation of mild to moderate head injury patients.

Areas include: • Head injury and neurotrauma. • Back and neck injury. • Sciatica and radiculopathy. • Leg pain and arm pain. • Spinal injury. • Spinal injuries. • Neuro-oncology and brain tumours. • Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES). • General neurosurgery.

07812 010633 07380 273655 (PA) imranliaquat@nhs.net www.scottishneurosurgeons.co.uk

Spire Murrayfield Hospital Contact Address: 122 Corstorphine Road EDINBURGH


Eric Drabble MBBS, MS, MA, FRCS, FRCS(Ed)

Breast, Breast Reconstructive and Oncoplastic Surgeon General and Hernia Surgeon

Specialist in presenting clear explanations of: . How an event or mishap occurred . What has occurred and why . The implications and expected outcomes of mishap or injury I carry out approximately 20+ medico-legal reports per annum. My reports are written in clear terms for the court and instructing lawyers, interpreting and explaining medical language and terms.

T:01752 761850 T: 07533 186772 E: pbgsurg@icloud.com Former Chairman of the Peninsula Breast Cancer Network, South west regional representative of ABS and BASO and chair of PHNT Breast MOT group


Dr Kalman Kafetz BSc, MB BS, FRCP

Consultant in Geriatric Medicine

All Aspects Of Geriatric Medicine. Dr Kafetz writes reports for solicitors on all aspects of the clinical medicine of old age including, but not confined to, falls, causes of fractures, pressure sores, confusion, cognitive issues, dementia, capacity, Parkinson’s disease in older people, rehabilitation, disability and appropriate care of older people in hospitals, care homes and in their own homes. He advises for claimants and defendants and as a single joint expert and for the prosecution and the defence in criminal work. He advised the Crown Prosecution Service in the case of Ezekiel McCarthy, one of the oldest people to appear at the Old Bailey charged with murder. He has attended the 2 day Royal Society of Medicine/BPP School of Health expert witness masterclass and the 2017 BMA medico-legal conference and obtained the Bond Solon Civil Procedure Rules for Expert Witnesses certificate. He is a member of the clinical forensic and legal medicine section of the Royal Society of Medicine and the Faculty of Expert Witnesses.

07908 904462 | kalmankafetz@hotmail.com 22 Offham Slope LONDON | N12 7BZ


Our goal is to assist clients advisors and the Courts to bet the unique aspects of medica individual cases, so that they informed decisio

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & ACADEMIC DISTINCTIONS •FRCS Edinburgh 1977 •FRCS Ireland for services to victims of trauma and developing the ATLS System in the Irish Republic 1993 •FRCS England (by election) for services to Surgical Education in the UK 1995 •FRCP London for services to Medical Education (in Northern Ireland region) 1997 •PGDL, College of Law, London, 1999 •Appointed Miller Professor of Surgery, University of Johannesburg 2001 •Werner Korte Gold Medal for services to German Surgical Education 2002 •International Development Advisor, Royal College of Surgeons, England (Tutor since 1994, Principal Tutor for Faculty Development 2003-2008) •Medal of the Swedish Surgical Society for services to medical education 2005 •FRCS Glasgow for international services to medicine 2008 •Rudolf Pichlmayr Medaille of the German Surgical Society


s, their legal tter understand al evidence in can make more ons.

The Importance of Preliminary/Screening Advice in Medical Negligence Cases A 72 year old with Alzheimer’s Disease was admitted to a respite unit for several weeks so that his wife could go on holiday. At home he would sleep in his own bed although occasionally in the night he would get up and wander around. He did not require a stick and had no problems with his sense of balance. He was able to feed and clothe himself with minimal assistance. The Respite Unit was part of a more general ward in a Community Hospital. He was in a four bed unit as part of a 24 bed ward which at night was staffed by two nurses and three nursing assistants. There were no bed rails on his bed and the floors were carpeted. Ten days after admission he got out of bed at 3am as he wanted to go to the bathroom. He fell down beside the bed onto his left side. The noise of the fall attracted one of the nursing assistants in another bay. He was put back into bed and seen by a doctor. The following morning an x-ray of his hip confirmed a fracture. The family instigated a claim on his behalf for medical negligence because of the fall. The lawyers involved obtained reports from an Orthopaedic Expert in relation to the fracture, a Geriatric Specialist in relation to some potential increase in his levels of confusion after the incident and especially in rehabilitation. The statement of claim indicated that the gentleman should have been more closely supervised and there should have been bed rails in place. Unfortunately there was no initial report in relation to liability and causation. There was in fact no indication why this gentleman should have been subjected to any “special� nursing care over and above that which was available on the ward, nor was there any indication for the use of bed rails which in some circumstances could have served to increase his levels of confusion. It is of note that he did not have any bed rails in place at home. The case was easily defended at a preliminary stage although unfortunately the legal firm had already incurred considerable expense in obtaining other reports for which they were not able to recover their costs from the family, who were of limited means. This is an important lesson in case management. Any case which has a potential for a suit in medical negligence should have a preliminary screening report in order to ensure that the elements of duty, breach and consequential damage are likely to be in place, prior to commissioning any other costly specialist reports. MDU figures for 2016 show that less than one in six actions in medical negligence actually succeed with the vast majority failing on the grounds of causation. It must be remembered that subsequence is not the same as consequence.

Initial screening is therefore essential to manage client expectations at an early stage. This avoids unnecessary effort and costs for all concerned. Too many cases are taken to Court with no chance of success. This is stressful for both the client and their legal advisor and indeed for the medical personnel involved.


Mr Peter Revington

Maxillofacial Surgeon www.mrprevington.co.uk

Peter Revington TD. BDS.MB.BS.MScD. FDS FRCS(Eng)

Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon I originally trained in dentistry, qualifying in 1976, before working for the Medical research council to acheive my masters degree. I then returned to the NHS and after completing my dental fellowship, I joined the army. After five years with the armed forces, I left to study medicine at Charing Cross/ Westminster. After completing my surgical fellowship, I returned to my original specialty to complete my higher surgical training at Kings College Hospital, before taking up my appointment as Consultant Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon at Frenchay Hospital in December 1994.

With the closure of Frenchay & the centralisation of the Maxillofacial service, I moved to the Bristol Royal Infirmary/Bristol Children's Hospital, which is now my NHS base. My special interest is in Facial deformity surgery. I am a member of the Cleft Lip and palate team, with a focus on secondary cleft surgery. My other surgical interests include facial trauma ( I am on the faculty of a number of training workshops, for the army and others) Temporomandibular joint surgery and salivary gland disease. I am a member of the BMA, a Fellow of the British Association of Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons.

Tel: 0117 3429625 E: peter.revington@uhbristol.nhs.uk Secretary: cathatkinsonuk@yahoo.co.uk Private Secretary Tel: 0117 9804081 E: Tracy.ryan@spirehealthcare.com W: www.mrprevington.co.uk


Dawn Cragg

MBE - BABTAC, CIDESCO, CPCP, BASC, Expert Witness. Dawn was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year’s 2010 Honours List for her outstanding work in developing Medical Tattooing as a service to healthcare. Micropigmentation treatments provide cosmetic enhancement of the eyebrows, eyeline and lipline by the subdermal implantation of tattoo pigments. It is also used to provide post-surgical treatments to re-define areole, to camouflage scar tissue, for hair re-placement treatments and to provide eyebrows and eyeline for sufferers of Alopecia.

Micropigmentation Training Initial micropigmentation training in Paris - 1983 Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (S.P.C.P). Qualified Practitioner Member, Subject Matter Expert, C.P.C.P. Subject Matter Expert & Accredited Teacher since 1996. British Association of Skin Camouflage. (BASC) Diploma awarded 2003 Bond Solon/University of Cardiff Expert Witness Training completed 2004 Since 1996 Dawn has achieved a recorded history of continuing education and training in micropigmentation, having attended various conferences. History of Tattooing Tattooing has been practiced across the globe since at least Neolithic times, as evidenced by mummified preserved skin, ancient art, and the archaeological record. It was Captain James Cook, a British explorer, who first coined the word ‘tattoo’ when describing a Polynesian practice of inlaying black pigments under the skin. Traditionally associated with sailors and convicts, artistic tattoos are widespread in today’s society. History of Permanent Make-Up In the early years Queen Cleopatra in ancient Egypt and some women in India and Africa had sought permanent eye enhancement with various substances . They used plant and nut pigments or ground coals (carbon) to color eyeliners or eye shadows and inserted them through the skin around their eyes with any sharp implements, usually flint that had been filed to a sharp point. This is where permanent make-up, as we know it today, originated. What Is Permanent Make-Up? In modern times permanent make-up (micropigmentation) is the implantation of colored pigments under the surface of the skin, using a very fine needle or group of needles, via a hand-held manual device or an electrically driven handpiece. This is a cosmetic procedure personally chosen by the technician and the client to enhance facial features such as eye-brows, eyes, and lips on normal skin. What is Medical Tattooing? As far as the author is aware there is no historical evidence that attempts were made to cover scars in the early days. However in modern times the awareness of medical tattooing to aesthetically improve the appearance of any part of the skin is rapidly gaining acceptance from medical practitioners,


permanent makeup technicians and patients. Medical tattooing is used to reconstruct features such as lips (possibly due to cleft lip or mouth cancer) or eyebrows (due to hair loss or alopecia) and to replace the areola following mastectomy. Many people will have heard of nipple reconstruction although it is quite disappointing just how many patients who would have benefited from this procedure were not offered medical tattooing. An example would be if a patient’s nipple could not be grafted onto the new breast mound. This applies to all genders. Non-infectious skin conditions and scarring have many causes including hereditary and congenital (present from birth). Medical tattooing can cosmetically improve scars that are not darker than the surrounding area of skin e.g. following accident trauma, violence, disease, or interventions such as plastic and cosmetic surgery, radiation therapy, and endoscopic surgery. In cases where the scar is darker than the surrounding area then camouflage creams that are specifically manufactured to cover skin blemishes can be applied. The age of the scar, type, color, condition, and the health of the skin surrounding the area to be treated, as well as the underlying health and age of the patient will affect the pigment color and technique used. All will influence the outcome, as would patient compliance with aftercare. The composition of scarred skin, different types of scars, and how the scars themselves react to medical tattooing are further considerations. For example, scar tissue due to burn injury will absorb more pigment and may require several medical tattoo sessions to achieve an acceptable outcome. After the initial treatment, the pigment will fade over time. In fair skin (Fitzpatrick skin type I and II) once the pigment has faded, the residual color will tend to be even lighter because of the need for titanium dioxide (white) to mix the color. Consequently, frequent retouches will be necessary, possibly on an annual basis. Variegation in the skin caused by freckles and capillaries, for example, should be added on the final visit; the skin must have fully healed between appointments. Healing will take approximately 1 month on young and healthy skin. On mature skin, approximately 2 months should be allowed between treatments. Healing affects the ultimate color as it requires a layer of skin to grow over the tattooed area; therefore, the pigment will appear lighter over time. Application Techniques Scratch-tests and Patch-tests.Scars are very unpredictable and different areas of the same scar can respond differently to the pigment.When using both glycerin-based and water-based colored pigments on several areas of a scar a skin test is essential to determine the reaction to the pigment. A scratch-test is applied underneath the skin to establish which shade of pigment will heal to the color required. This method should be used 4 – 6 weeks prior to the first procedure. Only a very small area should be tested.Patch-tests procedures are used at the consultation prior to the procedure to check for any allergic reaction. A small drop of pigment should be applied topically, covered with an adhesive dressing, (assuming the client has no allergy to plasters) and left in place for 24 hours. The patch test should also include the anaesthetic that will be used during the procedure. If the area becomes irritated, the dressing should be removed immediately and the skin cleansed. In this case tattooing should not proceed. This method of testing is normally used for cosmetic tattooing, e.g. eyebrows, eyeliner, and lips, where the client can discuss with the technician which color to choose.Medical tattooing is a process not a procedure, therefore frequent re-touches will normally be required, sometimes but not always, on an annual basis. This is most likely for lighter skin-tones (Fitzpatrick skin-types I & II).The technician requires skill, artistry, and color experience to match the area to be treated. In order for the tattooing to naturally blend in with the surrounding skin the illusion of variations must be added. For example freckles, moles, capillaries and small red Campbell de Morgan spots, which are small benign tumours containing an excess of blood vessels (sometimes referred to as Cherry Angiomas). The quantity of the spots can increase as the patient ages, therefore the skill of re-creating them is essential for a medical tattooist. Pigment is applied using a circular, back and forth, or hair stroke motion, depending on the area worked. Shading is applied using a flat needle configuration and working through a very thin layer of petroleum jelly. Stippling is the application of small dots with a fine round needle. Working in natural daylight is important. If this is not possible, then daylight bulbs may be used. Work should never be attempted under artificial light. Color application should be conservative initially, and can be adjusted on subsequent visits. This is because one cannot be sure how the pigment is going to heal into the skin, and it is easier to add more color at the second appointment.


Who Can Perform Medical Tattooing and Where Although medical tattooing will use the same products and techniques as micropigmentation, the technician will require additional training because of the nature of working on scar tissue, rather than normal skin.A Medical tattooist should firstly should have had thorough training, subsequent on-going experience in cosmetic tattooing, and have a background in beauty therapy or relevant medical experience. A knowledge of the formation and causes of the various types of scar tissue is essential. If it is not possible to attend classes on this subject there are now many very good on-line courses in dermatology available. It is essential that technicians are highly skilled and qualified in medical tattooing before they accept clients or patients. Because of lack of understanding and tattoo techniques, inexperienced and undertrained practitioners can cause damage to the scar, including permanent hypopigmentation. In addition, post-treatment hyperpigmentation can occur when tattooing patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV, V, and VI. In many countries the cosmetic tattooing industry is unregulated and without thorough training to a high standard (i.e., from a recognized training authority). Therefore expertise is potentially highly variable and insurance is difficult to obtain. A patient seeking treatment in any country can contact the SPCP (Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professions) via their website spcp.org. They have a list of trained technicians worldwide who meet the very high standards in cosmetic and medical tattooing as required for membership. Medical tattooing can be applied to all areas of the body, apart from the genitalia. This is because if a patient were to claim they had lost physical sensation, or if infection developed in that area, it would be nearly impossible to prove this was not caused by medical tattooing. Therefore it is unlikely to be covered on a technician’s insurance. Technicians generally work from hospitals and clinics, though they may work from other premises provided that they have been inspected and licensed by their local authority. Products Used Although medical tattooing will use the same products and techniques as micropigmentation, the technician will require additional training because of the nature of working on scar tissue, rather than normal skin.Good quality pigments must always be used and safety data sheets should be obtained from the distributors. Pigments used to camouflage scars to a natural skin tone for Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV are mainly highquality medical-grade products based on titanium dioxide. This is in contrast to pigments used in cosmetic micropigmentation, where the darker colors are more likely to have an iron oxide base. Color washes (diluted pigments) are a very important part of medical camouflage as well for blending the edges of scars or areolae.A digital machine is preferable because the power source is stable. Battery-operated machines are not recommended because battery power is affected by temperature and humidity and the speed would not be constant. The machine must conform to the regulations of the relevant country. For example, in the United Kingdom all machines should conform to European Union regulations. The CE mark (Conformité Européene) indicates the manufacturer’s declaration that the product meets the requirements of the EC (European Community) directives. Needles must be sterile, disposable (single use), pre-packaged, color coded for easier size identification, packaged with plastic needle guard tubes, and compliant with health authority requirements. Single needle - should be used with great caution because of their sharpness and fineness. It is easy for an inexperienced technician to penetrate the skin too deeply as the skin will feel no resistance. This may cause the pigment to migrate. This migration may not be visible immediately, but may be evident after a few months. Double needle - two single needles close together and therefore, as with the single needles, not recommended for general use. Triple needle - a cluster of three; the most useful needle for creating the outline for lips and freckles. Flat needles - a row of needles in a line varying upwards from four needles. They are the perfect choice for eyebrow hair strokes, if used correctly, at right angles to the skin. When used this way with a sweeping motion, they are ideal for camouflaging larger areas of skin.


Round needles - five or more are best used to treat a large area of skin approximately 2 cm2 & above. Magnums - used for shading, blending, and colouring large areas and are therefore very suitable for medical tattooing. Because of the amount of pigment that flows through, less passes are required, limiting skin damage. Anaesthetics Used in Permanent Make-Up and Medical Tattooing Most countries have regulations regarding the use of topical anaesthetics used in tattooing. Technicians should only use products that are licenced and legally available in their country and read the instructions for each product before use. When is Medical Tattooing Considered Appropriate? Medical tattooing offers a long-lasting alternative to the daily chore of applying camouflage products. The professional judgment of the client’s dermatologist, or medical practitioner is required to evaluate whether the use of laser, acids, or hydroquinone will lighten hyperpigmentation, or if medical tattooing is warranted. Tattooing is useful for cases where conventional methods are not indicated; e.g. when nipple surgical reconstruction is not achievable, or when a scar is healthy and without erythema and therefore would improve with additional laser treatment. Scars that will not benefit from surgical revision because of potential uneven color distribution often present a good outcome when tattooed. Hypopigmented scars generally look better with color, even if not a perfect match. Medical tattooing can disguise scarring resulting from the donor site of hair transplant surgery, also small scars following an accident or surgical procedure. The client must agree to the selected color before proceeding with the treatment. This is achieved by placing the pigment next to the area requiring the tattoo. Clients must be advised that initially the tattooed area will appear darker but should settle to the selected color in approximately 4 weeks. The design and shape of the tattoo must also be agreed before proceeding. This is most important for eyebrow and lip replacement as fashions frequently change and the tattoo could become ‘dated’ (compare the 1940’s thin arched eyebrow line to the modern thicker and fuller shapes of today). Contraindications • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Either a patch (on top of the skin) or scratch (under the skin) test must be undertaken 24 hours before the planned tattooing. A 28-day patch test may be required for organic pigments. Failure to do so may invalidate insurance. People who are prone to hypertrophic or keloid scarring. Scars from burns need to be mature and completely healed prior to medical tattooing. The physician’s written consent must be obtained to proceed. Any area of skin that has a suspicious lesion, especially indicating potential skin cancer. Skin types IV, V, and VI (Fitzpatrick scale) can result in hyperpigmentation. Scars less than 6 to 12 months old. Patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Patients with skin grafts, without prior written consent from the doctor Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, without prior written consent from the doctor. Patients with abnormal heart conditions, without prior written consent from the doctor. Patients with body dysmorphia are likely to have unrealistic expectations. Suntan (fake or natural). Some drugs may change the color of the skin; the person is advised to wait until the course of medication is completed and the physician gives permission for medical tattooing to proceed.

dawncragg.net


Cancer A cancer patient is not contraindicated, neither is chemotherapy as long as there is written medical consent from the doctor. Vitiligo patients are not contraindicated providing written consent is obtained by a Dermatologist or Doctor Risks The following potential risks must be fully explained to the person before they agree to any medical tattooing. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 21.

Hyperpigmentation can occur when tattooing Fitzpatrick skin-types IV – VI. Hypopigmentation can be caused by incorrect needle insertion. Successful results cannot be guaranteed. Allergy to pigments. Allergy to the aftercare product used immediately post-procedure. Allergic reaction to topically applied anaesthetic products such as lidocaine, prilocaine, and tetracaine. Swelling, bleeding, crusting, nipple flattening and infection. Skin changes color according to many internal and external factors (e.g. medication and sun). Pigments will remain in the skin indefinitely, but will break down and fade with time. Tattoos that are frequently exposed to ultraviolet light will fade more quickly than those hidden by clothing. Reactions to any type of tattoo can occur many years after the procedure was carried out. Needles inserted too deeply can cause bleeding, migration of pigment, and damage to hair follicles. Overworking the area can result in scarring. Results are not instantaneous. Scarred skin is unpredictable and reacts differently than undamaged skin. Results can be inconsistent across the scarred area. Unrealistic expectations; scars can only be disguised, not removed. Patients with body dysmorphia may have unrealistic expectations. Hyperpigmentation is not resolved by tattooing a lighter color over the area, as the needle may cause further hyperpigmentation. Natural excessive melanin distribution, such as freckles and lentigines, will respond differently when tattooed. Micropigmentation and medical tattooing is not an exact science, therefore results cannot be guaranteed

Before and After Photographs of Medical Tattooing

Web toes before Micropigmentation treatment.

Vertical pigment line using micropigmentation gives appearance of shadow.


Before and After Photographs of Medical Tattooing Scar From Eyebrow Lift

Scar on the front of client’s forehead. A series of dots applied in a dark brown exactly matches his hair.

Scar Camouglaged And Eyebrow Reshaped

This high-profile lady had a brow lift which resulted in a scar through her eyebrow. The scar was camouflaged by “raising” the eyebrows using medical tattooing.

This patient had harmed herself with a razor blade, having many scars up her arm. The first photo shows the result of a skin-scrape assuming the scars would be removed and the skin would grow back unblemished. Unfortunately it did not work. The second photo is the healed skin after the surrounding area has been matched using different shades of brown to create freckles of various sizes. An EXCELLENT example of looking ‘outside-the-box’!

MALE LIPS - SKIN TRAUMA Before

POST-MASTECTOMY

Befoere treatment

After Micropigmentation

(Note artistic touch - Veins)

After

This gentleman had a habit of biting and picking the skin on his lips, resulting in pigment loss caused by scarring. Pigment was tattooed in to match the surrounding unaffected skin

Artificial nipple was created during reconstructive plastic surgery. This client had veins showing on the breast that had not been operated on, so the other was tattooed to match.

Copyright photographs by Dawn Cragg MBE. All tattooing and makeup applied by Dawn Cragg MBE.


Dr Paul Sigston MBChB FRCA FRCP(Edin) FFICM

Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care

Dr Sigston is a consultant in both Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine. He was appointed to a consultant position in Tunbridge Wells in 1998. He works in the NHS and also the private sector locally. He qualified from Edinburgh University in 1987 and underwent training in Medicine, Anaesthetics and Intensive Care in both adults and paediatric practice. In addition to clinical practice, Dr Sigston has held a number of senior leadership positions including Medical Director and Responsible Officer and in addition sits as a Royal College Advisor on Consultant Interview Panels. In his many years of senior medical leadership position, Dr Sigston has widespread experience of managing clinical negligence issues, civil claims and coroner’s court hearings. He is conversant with the workings of the legal system and the needs of various parties. He was heavily involved in the defence of a corporate manslaughter case involving the Trust: this case was successfully defended with a dismissal of the case by the judge (R v Dr Errol Cornish and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust). Dr Sigston has completed specialist Expert witness training with Bond Solon.

M:07712 007 051 E: paul@sigston.co.uk E: paul.sigston@nhs.net W: www.sigston.co.uk Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells. Kent TN2 4QJ

Training Bond Solon

Membership

General Medical Council, Royal College of Anaesthetists, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, European Society of Anaesthesia Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland. The Federation of forensic and expert witnesses


Dr Robert Campbell MBChB, DMRD, FRCR

Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist Dr Campbell is a specialist Consultant Radiologist with expertise in musculoskeletal imaging. His practice is based in Liverpool, providing imaging services to the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Teaching Hospitals, a renowned centre for orthopaedics, rheumatology and related specialities. He has over 20 years of experience in writing medico-legal reports for medical negligence cases. He also provides imaging services for personal injury cases, including, x-ray, MRI, CT and ultrasound, for clients based in the North West of England.

Areas include:

• Trauma. • X-rays. • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). • Computed Tomography (CT). • Ultrasound. • Orthopaedics, spine and rheumatology imaging. • Sports medicine imaging.

R&M Campbell Ltd 10 Kingsmead Road North PRENTON Merseyside CH43 6TB

0151 706 2915 (NHS PA) 0151 200 1184 (Med-legal PA) 07940 537903 rob.campbell@rlbuht.nhs.uk medlegalreporting@gmail.com


Dr Piotr Buczkowski FRCA, FFPMRCA

Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine Consultations in English and Polish.

• • • •

Dr Buczkowski works as a Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine at:

Nuffield Derby Hospital Nuffield Leicester Hospital Spire Leicester Hospital Spire Nottingham Hospital.

Specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal (neck and lower back) pain including neck injury related headaches. His clinical interest also includes: • • • • • •

Chronic pain management Pain after injuries and RTA's Whiplash Complex regional pain syndrome (causalgia, RDS) Neuropathic pain, Pain after limb injury - including hand and foot injuries.

Training: • Medical Degree from the Medical University Gdansk, Poland 1992, • Full Anaesthetic and Pain Medicine training in the UK, • FRCA (London) 2002, FFPMRCA 2007

Memberships include: • International Spinal Intervention Society • International Association for the Study of Pain • Royal College of Anaesthetists

Dr Piotr Buczkowski

Spire Leicester Hospital | Gartree Road | Leicester | LE2 2FF Secretary Tel: (0116) 265 3656 | admin@dr.buczkowski.co.uk


Dr Megan Emma Smith LLB, MBBS, FRCA, Barrister

Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Megan Smith is a Consultant Anaesthetist at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, one of the UK’s leading major teaching hospitals. Dr Smith qualified as a doctor in 2003 and began her career in anaesthesia in 2006. She has been a consultant anaesthetist since 2015. She specialises in Regional anaesthesia (in particular, single shot peripheral nerve blockade and peripheral nerve infusion catheter insertion), trauma and orthopaedics, hand trauma, general and colorectal surgery, vascular surgery, renovascular (in particular arteriovenous fistula formation), renal surgery (including renal cancer and transplants), laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery.

LEGAL EXPERTISE Prior to studying medicine, Dr Smith was a practising barrister. She gained a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) in 1993 for which she was awarded First Class Honours. She attended the Inns of Court School of Law in London between 1993 and 1994 where she completed her Bar examinations. She was called to the Bar of England and Wales in October 1994. Dr Smith has been awarded a number of scholarships and prizes by The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn for both her pre-pupillage and pupillage years. These include the Thomas More, Hardwicke and Shelford Scholarships. She also received numerous subject prizes during her LL.B (including for Medical Law and Ethics) as well as prizes for overall excellence in Part I and Part III examinations. Dr Smith practised as a barrister specialising in property, contract, commercial, landlord and tenant and insolvency law. In addition, she acted for plaintiffs and defendants in professional negligence cases. She appeared regularly in the County Court and High Court. She is entirely comfortable taking responsibility for the conduct of cases with serious outcomes for clients/patients and is highly skilled in relation to the following:

* Rapid, forensic analysis and assimilation of complex subject matter * Public speaking and thinking quickly on her feet, particularly in court * Assessment of likely examination and cross examination subject matter * Clear, accurate written presentation including the drafting of witness statements, affidavits, legal opinions and pleadings, as well as investigation reports * Time management: prioritisation of tasks, working under pressure of time and working to strict deadlines * Client communication and management and conduct of client consultations * The conduct of formal negotiations on behalf of clients 19 Meynell Gardens LONDON E9 7AT


Dr Smith retains a keen interest in medical law and is a member of the Medicolegal Society. She is a member of the Royal Free Hospital’s Serious Incident Review Panel and has conducted investigations into serious incidents that have occurred within the Trust.

Areas of Expertise: • General anaesthesia for major adult surgery. • Regional anaesthesia (peripheral nerve blockade incl use of peripheral nerve catheters). • Orthopaedic anaesthesia. • Neuraxial anaesthesia for adults (spinal, epidural, combined spinal and epidural). • Anaesthesia for plastic surgery. • Anaesthesia in trauma patients. • Airway management and problems with airway management (incl dental damage). • Acute pain management. • Care of the acutely unwell adult surgical patient. • Awareness under anaesthesia. • Allergy and anaphylaxis. • Intra-operative care (incl patient positioning). • Law and practice relating to anaesthetic consent. • Invasive monitoring (incl arterial line insertion and central venous cannulation).

020 3663 3367 | 07525 432915 | megan.smith16@nhs.net | www.drmegansmith.com


Dr James Bromilow BM MRCP FRCA FFICM

Consultant In Anaesthesia And Intensive Care Medicine Dr James Bromilow is a Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine based in Dorset. He is currently Lead Consultant for his Trust’s Intensive Care Unit. He has over 22 years of post-graduate medical experience including 11 as a Substantive Full Time Consultant. He currently holds a full time NHS post at Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, where his clinical time is spent with a 50:50 split of Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia. He is in a team of 6 Consultants running the General Intensive Care Unit and also performs about 500 anaesthetics per year split between the public and private sectors. He is an invited Visiting Academic Fellow at Bournemouth University and an expert reviewer for the British Journal of Anaesthesia. He holds a number of local and regional management positions. Dr Bromilow has over 5 years’ experience acting as an expert witness in clinical negligence cases and currently writes in excess of 60 clinical negligence reports per annum. He has formal training in acting as an expert witness through the Bond Solon Cardiff Law School Expert Witness Certificate. His current ratio of work is 60% Claimant to 40% Defendant. He has a high rate of re-instruction from a number of prestigious law firms and is a registered Expert with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, Member of the Medico-Legal Experts Practice and Medical Expert Witness Alliance. Dr Bromilow provides fast and reliable turnaround of reports and, undertakes regular peer review of work to ensure constant high standards.

2019

Federation of Federation of

Expert witnesses Forensic Forensic & Expert&witnesses

Areas of specialist knowledge include: • Anaesthetic awareness • Critical Care Medicine • Resuscitation • Sepsis • Medical emergency teams • Peri-operative care • Anaesthesia • Recognition of severity of illness • Critical care outreach • Asthma • Advanced ventilation strategies • Anaphylaxis • Epidural anaesthesia • Meningitis • Malignant hyperthermia • Encephalitis • Air embolism • Central venous cannulation • Anaesthesia for laparoscopic surgery • Enhanced recovery programmes • Anaesthesia for robotic surgery • Spinal anaesthesia • Thromboprophylaxis • Trauma • Physiological track and trigger tools


Dr James Bromilow

Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine Training: Expert Witness training- completed Cardiff Law School Bond Solon Expert Witness Certificate (Civil Expert Certificate) and Expert in Report Writing, Courtroom Skills, Cross Examination and Civil Law and Procedure.

Membership: Royal College of Anaesthetists, Association of Anaesthetists, Intensive Care Society, The Federation of forensic and expert witnesses

Dr James Bromilow BM MRCP FRCA FFICM

Consultant in Intensive Care and Anaesthetics Expert Witness 07946 194162 brom@doctors.org.uk www.intensivecareexpert.co.uk


Myles James Overton Taylor

Consultant Obstetrican & Gynaecologist BA (Oxon) FRCOG, PhD

Expert witness specialising in: • General Obstetrics • Gynaecology • Fetal Medicine

My particular areas of expertise include general obstetrics, fetal medicine, multiple pregnancy - including twin to twin transfusion syndrome, intrapartum care and general gynaecology. I have been involved in medico legal work for over 10 years, producing medical reports for around 40 to 50 cases per year, mainly in cases involving clinical negligence. The majority of my medico legal work is on behalf of claimants although I am willing to perform defence work. Depending on the complexity of the case, I can usually produce reports within 3 - 6 months of instruction.

Nuffield Health Exeter, Wonford Road, Exeter, EX2 4UG Tel: 07790 070751 Fax: 01392 406605 Email: mylesjotaylor@gmail.com Website: www.mylestaylor.co.uk


Mr Simon Bramhall MD FRCS Consultant HPB Surgeon While working at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in 2010, leading liver expert Simon Bramhall was involved in the dramatic transplantation of a liver that had been on board a private jet that crashed in fog at Birmingham International Airport en route to the hospital. According to Mr Bramhall, the recipient would ‘certainly have died’ without the liver, which mercifully survived the crash unscathed. With around 10-15 instructions per year as an expert witness in his specialist area, which covers the whole spectrum of liver, biliary and pancreatic surgical matters, Mr Bramhall carries out medicolegal work in criminal cases in addition to medical negligence work. His client base is reasonably evenly split between claimant and defendant. Mr Bramhall was a consultant surgeon at the liver unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital between 2002 and 2014, performing liver transplantation, pancreatic cancer surgery and liver surgery. He is now a consultant general/upper GI (HPB) surgeon.

In addition to his surgical duties, Mr Bramhall has been involved in tutoring and examining medical students and supervising postgraduate students in higher degrees, management and research. He has published peer review papers, abstracts and book chapters and also has given presentations and invited lectures nationally and internationally. He is a member of the West Midlands Surgical Society, the Midland Gastroenterological Society, the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland and the Association of Upper GI Surgeons.

Mr Simon Bramhall T: 07976 278549 E: bramhalls933@icloud.com


Mr Andrew R H Grace MB BS, FRCS, FRCSLT (Hons), PGCME

Consultant Otolaryngologist I have twenty-nine years experience in medico-legal work as Consultant ENT Surgeon working in York. Widely experienced in personal injury cases involving the head and neck. Particular interests in rhinology and laryngology including voice and swallowing problems.

Professional Memberships • • • • • • • •

GMC Revalidation 19th February 2023 MDDUS Medical Protection (No: M225880) Fellow Royal College of Surgeons of England member of the federation of forensic and expert witnesses member expert witness institute Cardiff University Expert Witness Certificate in Law 2018 Member association of personal injury lawyers Member UK register of expert witnesses

Medico-legal

With almost 3 decades of experience in medico-legal work as a consultant ENT surgeon working in York, Mr Andrew Grace is widely experienced in personal injury cases involving the head and neck. He has a particular interests in Rhinology and Laryngology including voice and swallowing problems. Mr Grace is available to work throughout the United Kingdom and has produced well over 100 reports over the past 3 years. He is willing to act as a Single Joint Expert with his workload is currently split at a ratio of 70% claimant; 20% defendant; 10% joint, Mr Grace is willing to attend court and offers a 15 minute, free of charge, Lawyer consultation.

Nuffield Hospital York Haxby Road. YORK North Yorkshire YO31 8TA 01904 715000 07710 646209 andrew.grace1@nhs.net www.medicolegalent.co.uk


Mr David Baxter-Smith MA, MSc, MB, BCh, BAO, FRCS Consultant Urological Surgeon

2019

Federation of Federation of

Expert witnesses Forensic Forensic & Expert&witnesses Medico-Legal Experience:- After forty years of clinical work in General Surgery and Urology I retired from clinical work in 2013 to devote more time to my interest in Medico-Legal work. I now write reports for claims arising from urological or genital problems. I do not claim medico-legal expertise for any other specialties. In recent years my MedicoLegal work has increased such that I now write about thirty-five reports per year. This consists of 80% for alleged Personal Injury and 20% for alleged Medical Negligence. About 75% of my work if for the claimant and 20% for the defendant and 5% are Single Joint Expert reports.

I have experience of Court Procedure and have attended Crown Court on three occasions as a witness in Murder Trials and once for a high-cost case of alleged Personal Injury. I have attended two Medico-Legal Expert Witness Courses organised by Specialist Info, the most recent of which was on 22nd November 2018 and I am a Fellow of The Faculty of Expert Witnesses. I attended the Premex Annual Conference in November 2017 and received The Bond Solon Training Certificate for the Civil Procedure Rules Part 35 and I am a member of The Birmingham Medico-Legal Society, I am also a recognised expert for The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers

Please contact David on: 01562 882314 | davidbaxtersmith@gmail.com


Medical Expert Report Writing Emma Ferriman has been a Consultant Obstetrician since 2001. She graduated from Liverpool University in 1990 and is dually accredited in both Obstetrics and Gynaecology and is subspecialty trained in Fetal and Maternal Medicine. Emma Ferriman worked at The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as a Consultant Obstetrician and Fetal Medicine specialist from 2001 to 2015. In November 2015 she was appointed as a Consultant Obstetrician with a special interest in Fetal Medicine at The Jessop Wing, The Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield. Emma Ferriman has a private practice in antenatal ultrasound and first trimester screening at Thisismy Health and Ultrasound Screening Centre in Leeds. Emma Ferriman is a member of the British Maternal and Fetal Medicine Society (BMFMS), British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) The British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS) . She is listed on the UK register of expert witnesses and is a member of The Society of Expert Witnesses (SEW). Emma Ferriman undertakes medical negligence and personal injury reporting within the United Kingdom. Currently cases are split approximately 50/50 between plaintiff and defendant. Areas of special interest include prenatal diagnosis, first trimester screening, multiple pregnancy and high risk obstetrics including intra partum complications and asphyxia. Fees are charged at ÂŁ200 per hour or part hour of medical time, ÂŁ500 for a screening/desktop report and six hours work for a full report. Electronic records accepted. Simple reports vary from 2 to 4 hours work whereas more complex reports may be 7 to 8 hours work. The time for completed reports is usually four to six weeks from the date of receipt of the full medical records.

To enquire about instructing Emma Ferriman, solicitors and medico-legal agencies should first contact emmaferriman@doctors.org.uk or call on 0113 262 1675 to request a copy of the Terms and Conditions. Please note that all fees are payable within 56 days of receipt of the completed report.


Award for medico-legal services to

Orthopaedic Surgery

It Gives us great pleasure at the Federation of Forensic and Expert Witnesses to announce this years Independent Awards and to profile our members chosen by us for their outstanding work with in their chosen speciality in this case Mr Sameer Singh MBBS BSc FRCS And the lifetime of commitment he has given to the field of Orthopaedic Surgery both to his patients and to the Expert witness industry. The Awards are independent to the Federation are designed to raise the profile and highlight in our opinion the best experts in their given fields of expertise we hope to bring this to the attention of the lawyers and barristers that follow us on linked in and who visit our site and read our E-mag.Mr Sameer Singh MBBS BSc FRCS is a Milton Keynes based expert and has a special interest in Orthopaedic Surgery, medical negligence and personal injury cases including all subjects like

• • • •

All aspects of trauma – soft tissue and bone injuries Sports and work injuries Upper and lower limb disorders and injuries Whiplash injuries

Mr Sameer Singh with the award

And of course is available to advise in any of these subjects that may need a Medico legal report needed for the courts. We fully recommend Mr Sameer Singh MBBS BSc FRCS and we are pleased to announce him as this year’s recipient.


MR SAMEER SINGH MBBS BSc FRCS FRCS Trauma and Orthopaedics, November 2006 FRCS Royal College of Surgeons England, April 2000 MBBS University of London, June 1995 BSc Psychology University of London, June 1992

About Mr Sameer Singh qualified from Guys and St Thomas Medical School in 1995. He completed his basic surgical training in London and was appointed to the St George’s Hospital orthopaedic rotation in 2001. In 2006 Mr Singh was appointed as Fellow to the Liverpool Upper Limb Unit, gaining expertise in shoulder, elbow and hand disorders. He was appointed Visiting Fellow to the Adidas Sports Medicine Centre, New Zealand and the Adelaide Sports Medicine Centre in 2007, concentrating on sports injuries and the treatment of elite athletes. Mr Singh’s elective practice concentrates exclusively on shoulder, elbow and hand disorders. He is trained to perform ultrasound scans of the shoulder and provides a one stop shoulder service for common shoulder disorders as well as general trauma and complex upper limb trauma. He is faculty member for the Advanced Arthroscopic Shoulder Course in Liverpool, where he trains other surgeons on new techniques and stays updated with new and developing procedures. Mr Singh is also a faculty member for the Royal College of Surgeons, training surgeons in basic surgical skills. Mr Singh tailors treatments to suit individual patients and uses advanced arthroscopic techniques and minimally invasive methods. He works in conjunction with physiotherapists to maximise non‐operative treatment of upper limb disorders and to make sure patients receive the appropriate rehabilitation after surgery. He utilises accelerated rehabilitation techniques to promote faster recovery and reduced time off work.

61 Church End, Biddenham, Bedford MK40 4AS


Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon & Expert Witness *

Consultant Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgeon at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust

*

Specialist in upper limb disorders

*

Expert Witness since 2008 - over 200 instructions per year

*

Personal Injury - all aspects of trauma (bone and soft tissue) and whiplash injuries

*

Medical Negligence - general trauma and upper limb disorders

*

Instructions on behalf of either claimant or defendant

*

Appointments usually available within 7-10 days

*

Home visits are possible - will travel up to 50 miles

*

Medco Certified

Expertise. These include:

* * * *

All aspects of trauma – soft tissue and bone injuries Sports and work injuries Upper and lower limb disorders and injuries Whiplash injuries

Mr Singh has been acting as an expert witness since 2008 and currently completes around 200 medico legal reports per year. His high quality reports - turnaround usually within 10 days from receipt of all relevant information - provide an accurate prognosis based on analysing the available evidence without prejudice. He is a member of the Expert Witness Institute and has received training in courtroom skills. Mr Singh can take instructions for cases on behalf of either claimant or defendant. Clients can be seen in clinic locations in Bedford and Milton Keynes with appointments usually being available within 7 to 10 days. Home visits can be arranged within a distance of 50 miles.

T:01908 305127 | M:07968 013803 W:orthopaedicexpertwitness.net


About the Award Receiving expert Mr Sameer Singh Mr Sameer Singh qualified from Guys and St Thomas Medical School in 1995. He completed his basic surgical training in London and was appointed to the St George’s Hospital orthopaedic rotation in 2001. In 2006 Mr Singh was appointed as Fellow to the Liverpool Upper Limb Unit, gaining expertise in shoulder, elbow and hand disorders. He was appointed Visiting Fellow to the Adidas Sports Medicine Centre, New Zealand and the Adelaide Sports Medicine Centre in 2007, concentrating on sports injuries and the treatment of elite athletes. Mr Singh’s elective practice concentrates exclusively on shoulder, elbow and hand disorders. He is trained to perform ultrasound scans of the shoulder and provides a one stop shoulder service for common shoulder disorders as well as general trauma and complex upper limb trauma. He is faculty member for the Advanced Arthroscopic Shoulder Course in Liverpool, where he trains other surgeons on new techniques and stays updated with new and developing procedures. Mr Singh is also a faculty member for the Royal College of Surgeons, training surgeons in basic surgical skills. Mr Singh tailors treatments to suit individual patients and uses advanced arthroscopic techniques and minimally invasive methods. He works in conjunction with physiotherapists to maximise non�operative treatment of upper limb disorders and to make sure patients receive the appropriate rehabilitation after surgery. He utilises accelerated rehabilitation techniques to promote faster recovery and reduced time off work.


Mr. Hugh Wheatley Consultant Otolaryngologist Clinical/specialist interests:

Biography:

Mr. Wheatley provides a general adult and paediatric ENT service. From nonsurgical treatments for nose, sinus and thyroid problems, to surgical nose reshaping and snoring procedures, he has the skills required to meet your every need. During a private consultation, he will assess your needs and recommend the most appropriate surgical or nonsurgical treatment. His special interest in head and neck conditions includes the management of head and neck cancer, thyroid and salivary gland disorders and voice conditions. He also provides a service for the management of snoring and facial plastic surgery, including rhinoplasty (cosmetic nose job) procedures.

As the founding member of ENTRUST, Mr Wheatley has the skills and experience you require to secure the right outcome. Mr Wheatley graduated from Birmingham University in 1991. Following clinical attachments in surgical specialities, he trained in Ear, Nose and Throat surgery in Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester. A fellowship year in Melbourne, Australia saw Mr Wheatley specialising in facial plastic surgery and head and neck cancer at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. In 2002, he was awarded the CCST – Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training – and became a Consultant Surgeon in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Mr Wheatley is listed on the GMC specialist register for ENT surgery and is a member of the British Association of Otolaryngologists/ Head and Neck Surgeons and the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgeons. He also holds an NHS appointment at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is a consultant at the Winfield Hospital, Gloucester and the Nuffield Hospital, Cheltenham.

Consultant Otolaryngologist. Private services provided at: Nuffield Hospital, Cheltenham Winfield Hospital, Gloucester

NHS services provided at: Gloucestershire Royal Hospital Cheltenham General Hospital

Current Memberships

British Association of Otolaryngologists/Head and Neck Surgeons European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgeons

Mr. Hugh Wheatley Consultant Otolaryngologist

01242 370520 | 07976 978377 | hughwheatley@yahoo.co.uk | enquiries@entrustent.co.uk

www.entrustent.co.uk


Mr Sarwat Sadek MBBCh FRCSI FRCS(ORL-HNS) FRCS

Mr Sarwat Sadek has been practising as an ENT Consultant for over 35 years and is currently Consultant Otolaryngologist and Head & Neck Surgeon at Musgrove Park Hospital and the Nuffield Hospital, Taunton. He has a wide range of experience in all aspects of adult and paediatric ENT and Head & Neck Surgery and can act as an expert witness, including appearing in court, in all cases relating to these areas.

His specialist areas of interest include: • Industrial deafness • Occupational rhinitis • Facial & neck trauma • Traumatic loss of sense of smell & taste • Deafness, tinnitus and vertigo as a result of road traffic accidents

Please Contact Katie Popham (secretary) E:sadekmedsec@gmail.com T: 07495606762. Somerset Nuffield Hospital, Staplegrove Elm, Taunton TA2 6AN


Mr Stuart A Metcalfe BSc (Hons) MPhil FCPodS Consultant Podiatric Surgeon

Mr Metcalfe EXPERT WITNESS

"TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS AN EXPERT WITNESS" Mr Metcalfe has over twenty five years clinical experience in the field of Podiatry including general Podiatry, biomechanics / sports medicine, specialist wound care and foot surgery. For over a decade Mr Metcalfe has been on the list of approved UK register of expert witnesses gaining an enviable reputation for high quality medical reports.

Services include: • Short form reports (by prior agreement) • Liability reports • Condition & Prognosis reports • Personal injury claims • Tier 1 Expert Association of Personal Injury Lawyers

Areas of specialist interests include • • • • • • • • • • •

Biomechanics / Sports Injury Bunion surgery Cryosurgery Diabetes Foot surgery Gait analysis General Podiatry Nail surgery Orthotics Verruca treatments Wound care

SECRETARY Anne Fellows TELEPHONE 0845 222 0007 or 07960 472824 EMAIL pa2footconsultant@icloud.com


Mrs Sally-Ann Dickinson

RGN Independent Nursing & Rehabilitation Consultant in Nursing Areas of Expertise: Nursing matters: Management and competence Training Orthopaedics, fractures and surgery Spine and neck injury and surgery Head, brain and spinal cord disease and injury Neurological problems General surgery Accident and trauma surgery Nursing and Care Homes: Nursing home registration and inspection. Nursing home standards of care. Disability rights and discrimination: Physically disabled people. Personal injury rehabilitation. Requirements and costs of care, housing, equipment. Analysis and quantification of personal care needs. Medical, nursing care and housekeeping requirements. Rehabilitation assessment and costing. Case management (disability).

Sally-Ann Dickinson can act as an expert witness, including the preparation of medico legal reports and appearing in court, in cases involving her specialist areas of expertise. These include head, back and spinal injuries as well as neurological disorders. She is experienced in nursing and residential home management and clinical negligence issues and has acted as a Coroners Expert. Sally-Ann Dickinson can provide expert opinion on care, care standards and rehabilitation resulting from catastrophic injury or clinical negligence and case management for individuals as required. I have also worked as a coroner’s expert and a specialist advisor to the CQC in acute and community environments.

T:01487 830014 M:07795 425891 E:sallyann.dickinson@briarhouse.co.uk E:sallyannexpert@hotmail.co.uk W:www.briarhouse.co.uk

Briar House 5 St Giles Close, Holme PETERBOROUGH Cambridgeshire PE7 3QZ


AWARD FOR HEALTHCARE EXPERT WITNESS PROVIDERS

2018/2019

The Award Winning Somek & Associates is one of the biggest providers of Expert Witnesses in the UK delivering highly professional trained experts in a range of health professions: Occupational Therapy / Care experts, Physiotherapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Nursing, Midwifery, and other key health professions

Alison Somek Alison is CEO of Somek & Associates, which has been established for over 20 years. She a Consultant Occupational Therapist and specialises in orthopaedics, brachial plexus/ Erb’s Palsy, upper limb hand injuries and general medical and surgical cases.

‘An excellent reputation...’ www.somek.com


Somek & Associates is one of the largest providers of Expert Witness services in the UK, delivering highly professional trained experts in a range of health disciplines; the depth and breadth of experience covers all types of personal injury and clinical negligence matters, as well as other medico-legal and regulatory needs. The consultancy was set up in 1997 by Alison Somek, CEO of Somek and Associates who as an occupational therapist / care expert, had previously worked in the National Health Service for over 20 years. Alison has seen the medico–legal environment change dramatically over this period, but has always been passionate about professionalism and independence in her role as an expert witness, continuing to ensure that the integrity of the expert witness is embodied in the work of the associates and company as a whole. This work is supported by a professional team led by Jessica Thurston, Chief Operations Officer (and also an occupational therapy / care expert with many years’ experience). Somek & Associates now has over two hundred experts, which include, occupational therapists (care experts), nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and other allied health professions. This is reflective of the growth in need for expert witnesses in a range of health care professions allied to medicine, as well as the high regard for Alison and the team at Somek and Associates. Experts are selected following a robust recruitment process after which they are required to attend an extensive training programme, covering topics from the role of the expert witness (including CPR Part 35) to Courtroom skills. Somek works with leading expert training organisations to offer in house courses and an Annual Conference for all experts, with specialist speakers including solicitors and barristers. All experts continue to undertake clinical practice in either statutory or independent settings, and importantly maintain their CPD. Reports for litigation (liability and quantum) are fully CPR compliant, or for advisory purposes. Reports are frequently commended; they are well written and presented and are relevant to the complexity and size of the case; they are clearly structured with robustly argued opinions and recommendations, summarised conclusions and costings, and above all, meet agreed deadlines.

Different report structures are available, according to the case need.

www.somek.com Somek & Associates offers competitive fees including deferred payment terms when required. Fee estimates and guidance for costs budgeting is provided upon request. Alison and the team are passionate about the integrity of the expert witness role, and as a company, they boast a balanced portfolio of claimant and defendant instructions in equal measure. Professionalism, objectivity, independence and understanding of legal principles and tests as well as relevant procedure rules (especially CPR 35), are all key factors that Somek strives for and it is these core values that has led to Somek and Associates’ outstanding reputation in the field. Somek welcomes feedback and responds with a ‘can do’ attitude to flourish in this ever-changing complex environment. The team members have extensive skills and knowledge and are happy to provide training sessions in their respective fields to lawyers and others, thus promoting the working relationships and building confidence. Alison and the team at Somek & Associates have a goal to make Somek and Associates the organisation of choice for expert witness services in the UK.


Here is what our clients say: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely, once again, for your time and expertise, without which I know that such a favourable result could not have been achieved. Please also thank the rest of the team for being so helpful and super-efficient.” — Claimant Solicitor’s feedback on Sunneva Thorpe

“The fine our Client received was £40,000, originally it was anticipated this could have been up to £1 million, and Sadia’s report was helpful in mitigation to try and reduce the fine as far as possible.” — Defendant Solicitor’s feedback on Sadia Hussain

“This is an impressive report, and the narrative is wellreasoned. Reading the Claimant’s report, one might think that the Claimant was completely incapacitated – almost akin to an amputation type injury. However, Mr JuddCooper carefully analyses each of the features and, I think, gives a more balanced view of his condition.” — Defendant Solicitor’s feedback on Mark Judd-Cooper

“I think Sarah did a great job on this Joint Statement.”

— Claimant Solicitor’s feedback on Sarah Walker.


Contact us for a discussion of your specific case needs.

Somek & Associates 9 Chess Business Park Moor Road Chesham HP5 1SD

T: 01494 792711 E: admin@somek.com W: www.somek.com


Dr Sahir Shaikh MBBS, MBBS, DOrth, DOrth, MspMed MspMed

Medco Medco Accredited Accredited Medical Medical Expert Expert

@whiplash_doc

@whiplash_doc

whiplashdoc.wordpress.com

whiplashdoc.wordpress.com

Dr Sahir Shaikh is an Orthopaedic Surgeon and medico-legal expert providing independent and robust opinion for personal injury cases for the last 15 years. He has recently graduated from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. Dr Sahir is the only expert in the UK to have completed Advanced Training in the Whiplash Injury Biomechanics. He undertook this training over the last 3 years having attended 4 modules in The USA . He has trained with Dr Arthur Croft who is a world leading authority on the Whiplash Injury Biomechanics and Crash Testing (www.srisd.com [1]). This science-based forensic training program is designed to provide examning and treating doctors with critical tools needed to successfully manage motor ve-hicle trauma cases and achieve optimal objective science based outcomes. It is interesting to note that over 1,500 scien-tific papers are referenced in just the first two modules of this program. As a graduate of this program, Dr. Shaikh has received the most conclusive, science-based forensic training available today. The Whiplash and Brain Trauma-tology Program covers the entire spec-trum from the physics of motor vehicle crashes to human biomechanics to diag-nostics and case management. This ground-breaking program provides current forensic research finding in four essential topics: 1. Whiplash Advanced Topics—the Fundamental Science; 2. Management Principles in Personal Injury and Forensic Documentation; 3. Principles of Impairment Rating and Forensic Reporting; and 4. Medico-legal Fundamentals for Prac-titioners and Forensic Experts. Dr Sahir Shaikh is available to accept instructions for the personal injury cases of RTA especially the ones where there is a low velocity impact. He consults at a number of venues across London and other places. For further information please contact his PA.

Contact details PA- Miss Hazel Forshaw Phone - 020 3239 1786 Email- drsahir.medicogb@gmail.com


XPC Services, Dr. Graham Mould Pharmaceutical & Toxicology Expert Witness

XPC Services provide expert witness advice and written reports for prosecuting and defence counsels on drug related criminal and similar cases. Clients include the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Police Authorities and many private solicitors. With over 40 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry, academia and the NHS, XPC Services expert Dr. Graham Mould holds extensive and broad knowledge in the action of drugs on the body and how the body responds when drugs are taken. His area of expertise include clinical pharmacy, clinical pharmacology and toxicology. Dr. Mould is also ideally placed to advise on drug therapy. Previously based at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, Dr. Mould has been heavily involved in the close clinical monitoring of patients who were receiving potent drugs, as well as observing the action of drugs in healthy volunteers and in patients. Over the last five years, Dr. Mould's skills have developed in report writing and assessing the action of drugs in criminal cases where the action of drugs might have been responsible. The role of the Expert Witness is to assist the Court on specialist or technical matters within their expertise. Dr. Mould is able to provide an unbiased opinion to the facts presented. His reports are clear and portrayed in numbered paragraphs for ease of reference. Written in detail using the latest research, reports are generally written within two to three weeks following an instruction and can be modified in the light of new evidence.


Welcome to XPC Services Providing expert advice on all things pharmaceutical

Dr. Mould has appeared as an Expert Witness in Magistrates and Crown Court on a number of occasions. He has been instructed to formulate reports centred around cases: • • • • • • •

involving the administration and effect of prescription and over-the-counter medicines in the young and elderly. driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. drug assisted sexual or criminal assault. the use of illicit drugs. errors in dispensing of prescribed medicines. interpretation of toxicology reports relating to drug concentrations. assessing results of overdose situations. Recent cases have included:

Prescription drugs and alcohol and the effects of depression and violence in terms of wounding with intent.

Drug involved in sexual assaults through the spiking of drinks in bars and club. The volume of cases of this nature seems to have increased in the last twelve months due to the number of drugs and other substances that are now available.

The use of dinitrophenol as a slimming agent or to build muscle mass. This compound which is largely purchased online requires the user to ingest a potent and toxic compound and individuals have died as a result of taking it.

T: 01483 685 785 W: www.xpertwitness.co.uk


Professor RICHARD

PETER TAYLOR

PhD BSc (Hons) FGA DGA FNAG FIRV MAE FHEA FGS MIEW

CURRICULUM VITAE

Consultant Jeweller: Gemmologist Valuer Diamond Expert Skills and strengths A track record of high quality innovation is demonstrated through my commercial successes within industry, during which time my leadership and management skills were honed. I developed as an effective communicator with the ability to lead, inspire, motivate and develop the staff to meet the commercial demands of a growing company. My presentation skills, strong interpersonal skills, and my ability to act as an effective facilitator were essential tools. I gained from my time in industry experience of the leadership, innovation and initiatives including staff development and support in managing change and its associated challenges. I have a growing network of contacts with other universities, including researchers and innovation academics within their field. I am a team player at heart believing success is best achieved through collaborative and team work through enthusiasm and commitment to working together with a common goal.

I specialise in :

• Valuations of Jewellery, gems, and diamonds. • Gem and diamond testing, for criminal civil including publicly funded cases. • Expert in the valuation of Watches, Silver, Antiques and Coins. • Insurance, Sale, security, probate, division of assets, divorce. Stock valuation, Stock control systems, audit and stock taking services Trading standards. • Recognised international expert in diamonds and gemmology.


Training includes: •

Single joint expert • Report writing • Expert meetings

Memberships:

A Fellow of the National Association of Jewellers A Fellow of the Institute of Registered Valuers • A Fellow of the Gemmological Association of GB • A member of the Academy of Experts • A Fellow of the Geological Society of GB • A member of the Mineralogical Society of GB • A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy • Associate member of RICS • Member of the Scottish gemmological association • Member of The Academy of Experts • Member of the Institute of Expert Witnesses • Member of the Society of Expert Witnesses Lecturer gemmology and valuation science at Birmingham City University • The Federation of Forensic and Expert Witnesses. •

T: +44 (0)1743 363188 | M: +44 (0)780 198 5883 E: rpt5@st-andrews.ac.uk | W: www.tayloredvaluation.co.uk 10 Shelton Hall Shrewsbury Shropshire SY3 8BS


David Berry

(PhD FRC Path MFSSoc MRSC) Independent Toxicology Consultant & Expert Witness

With 45 years as a practising analytical toxicologist and an additional 30 years providing independent toxicology consultancy, David Berry holds considerable experience at giving evidence in Magistrates & Crown Courts; Military Court Marshalls, Employment and sporting tribunals. A specialist in toxicology with particular emphasis on prescribed and illicit Drugs and Alcohol, David Berry has been involved in a range of criminal and civil investigations including driving and alcohol/ drug cases, child custody where drugs and poisons are involved; drug facilitated crime, workplace drug testing, medical reviews, interpretation of forensic toxicological analysis and forensic pathology reports. David utilises his experience and expertise to compile insurance reports, personal injury claims and cases of medical negligence and has acted as an expert witness in Coroners, Magistrates, County and Crown Courts. A qualified analytical chemist, David Berry was employed for 45 years in a specialist NHS toxicology laboratory as a Senior Analyst, working on developing methods for drug analysis and providing services for the analysis of drugs in biological specimens. David began offering his services to support a range of Clinical situations with his main applications of involvement being in Clinical and Forensic drug testing. Inevitably, he became involved with cases that had legal connotations and was drawn into writing legal reports and opinions related to such cases.


David Berry's mainly advises and instructs in the UK but global instruction are considered as he looks to open some new and exciting doors in the future.

Following these experiences, David started to offer these services to the legal profession independently. Today, David Berry specialises in writing detailed toxicological reports and interpretation for criminal and civil (usually insurance) investigations where drugs and poisons and/or alcohol are involved. The toxicology services that David Berry provides have advanced over time. He has become more involved with medical/toxicology reviews in workplace drug testing and also provides expert witness reports for hair testing analysis, mainly for the family courts. Providing valuable assistance to situations where toxicology is potentially involved, David has also undertaken a couple of security related jobs dealing, mainly with the assessments of toxicological risks.

To instruct David directly please contact him on the details below To read his full C.V. Click Here T:01342 324 955 / M:07833 556 460 E:dave_b2@mail.com


VICTORIA JENKINS BSc(Hons), CBiol, MSB, MCSFS, MEWI

PHARMACOLOGIST, TOXICOLOGIST & EXPERT WITNESS

Victoria Jenkins is able to combine her professional training, which led to her achieving a BSc. (Hons.) in Pharmacology and Toxicology, with the extensive work experience she gained throughout her career. From her first post learning forensic skills at a North East company through to the three years she spent as Head of the Drug & Toxicology Department at another leading forensic company, Victoria gained an invaluable insight into alcohol calculations, drink drive offences, alcohol, drug and medication effects and interactions. She became an independent consultant in 2002 and also provides reports as a consultant for Biomark Forensics. As part of her continual commitment to develop and extend her knowledge-base Victoria trained in the use of the ‘Camic Datamaster’ and ‘Lion Intoxilyzer 6000UK’ breath testing machines and attended a residential course at the Department of Forensic Medicine & Science in Glasgow; as well as undertaking additional training in the written and oral presentation of forensic evidence to support her work as an Expert Witness. Having attended Crown, Magistrates’ and Youth Courts, Coroners’ Courts and the Royal Courts of Justice in London and Jersey, to give advice and evidence on various aspects of forensic toxicology, Victoria is well versed in the etiquette expected of an Expert Witness in Court. Added to this, her encyclopaedic knowledge of the effects and interactions of a wide range of alcohol, drugs and medicines has been of great assistance in many cases she has undertaken; empowering her with the knowledge required to produce hundreds of professional reports. Victoria offers a diverse service as an Expert Witness and whilst mainly dealing with criminal cases for the defence or as a Single/Joint Expert, she has also carried out personal injury work and medical negligence cases on the behalf of the claimant, defendant or as a Single/Joint Expert. As you would expect of such a consummate professional Victoria is a member of a number of leading organisations including: • Member of the Expert Witness Institute (MEWI); • Member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Scientists (MCSFS); • Member of the Society of Biology (MSB); • Chartered Biologist (CBIOL) • Association of Personal Injury Lawyers Approved Expert (APIL Expert).


Giving us brief examples of cases that she has successfully undertaken in the past, Victoria went on to say: Personal Injury Cases: for example accidents at home or in the workplace where somebody has ingested alcohol, prescription drugs or illegal drugs. I have been asked to consider whether the drugs/alcohol ingested may have affected co-ordination, balance, concentration etc and therefore have contributed towards the accident happening. Medical Negligence Cases: for example where an individual has been prescribed the wrong medication by mistake or has been prescribed the wrong dose of medication and I have been asked to comment on the effect this may have had on their health. Criminal Cases: most often these are driving offences. In the case of alcohol, I may be asked to consider whether an individual’s recollected alcohol consumption is consistent with their breath reading and whether their reading would have been below the limit if they had not consumed post driving or laced drinks. I have also been asked to consider post driving and laced consumption in relation to drug driving offences. I am also often asked to comment on the effects of alcohol and/or drugs on an individual at the time they committed an offence and/or at the time they were interviewed. I have been asked to consider toxicology reports in Post Mortem cases to assess whether the effects of drugs and/ or alcohol may have contributed to someone’s death. In cases where an individual claims that they have had their drinks spiked (often to facilitate rape), I have been asked to comment on the effects of any drugs that may have been detected in their blood or urine samples. If no drugs were detected, I have been asked to consider whether any drugs may have been administered that could have passed out of the body prior to samples being obtained and if so whether the effects of these drugs are consistent with any effects described by the individual.

VICTORIA JENKINS

BSc(Hons) CBiol MSB, MCSFS, MEWI

T: 0191 378 1939 M: 07890 030 366 E: victoria.jenkins@live.co.uk


Dr Elizabeth Soilleux MA, MB, BChir, PhD, FRCPath, PGCertMedEd

Expert Witness Pathologist I am an experienced coroner's pathologist with over 10 years' consultant level experience and experience of over 1,000 autopsies, including many complex ones. I undertake medicolegal cases in haematopathology, autopsy pathology and other areas of pathology by agreement. I am able to recommend experienced expert colleagues where I feel others have greater expertise. With over 8 years involvement in medicolegal work I am able to provide short reports on specimens or full court compliant reports. I can also provide expert biopsy reporting, as either a primary diagnosis or second opinion. Keeping medicolegal cases to 10 - 20 per year, ensures high quality work with attention to detail and a high calibre, very clear and user-friendly service. Turnaround time is 4-6 weeks from receipt of all relevant information, but cases can be expedited if there are extenuating circumstances. Expert biopsy reporting is rapid taking 2-5 days, depending on complexity. 90% of work undertaken is for the claimant although I am happy to work as a ‘single joint expert' and will cover any international geographical area, as, in pathology, material can almost always be posted.

MEDICO-LEGAL | EXPERT BIOPSY REPORTING | CONSULTING SERVICES

Autopsy work will only be undertaken in the UK and Ireland. I am able to translate material from French, German and Spanish.

Please contact me to discuss your requirements without obligation. Dr Elizabeth Soilleux | 07798 643879 | www.expertwitnesspathologist.co.uk F

Foren


Prof David Osselton BSc, PhD, FRSB, FCSFS, SFHEA

Consultant Forensic Toxicologist

Professor M David Osselton is a Consultant Forensic Toxicologist based in Poole. After completing his PhD in Biochemistry he joined the Home Office Forensic Science Service (FSS) in 1974 to carry out toxicology research at the Central Research Establishment. He gained casework experience as Senior Toxicologist working at the FSS laboratories. In 1991 he was appointed Head of Toxicology for the FSS where he was responsible for developing toxicology services in addition to undertaking casework and providing advice to Government departments on drug testing. In January 2007 he joined the staff of Bournemouth University as Director of the Centre for Forensic Sciences and in August 2014 was appointed Head of Department of Archaeology, Anthropology and Forensic Science in the newly formed Faculty of Science and Technology.

Forensic Toxicology

Area of Expertise include: • Forensic Toxicology • Driving under the influence • Drug facilitate sexual assault • Post mortem toxicology • Drugs in hair • Workplace drug testing Prof. Osselton has over 40 years experience as an expert witness He has been involved in a number of high profile cases for the defence and prosecution both in the UK and overseas. He is co- author of two published expert committee reports related to drugs and driving between 2012 and 2016.

Training

As an experienced university teacher and internationally known lecturer in the field of Forensic Toxicology, author / co-author of over 100 published papers / book chapters and co-editor of Clarke’s Analysis of Drugs and Poisons, the standard international textbook on drug analysis, Professor Osselton is able to provide bespoke training to members of the legal profession

Membership

Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy ; Fellow of the Royal Biological Society (FRBS); Fellow of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (FCSFS)

2019

Federation of Federation of

Expert witnesses nsic Forensic & Expert&witnesses

Forensic Toxicology Services 07818 472467 forensictoxicologyservices@gmail.com


London Spine & Pain Centre • 83a Bexley Road • Erith • London • DA8 3SW

DR NORMAN KUFAKWARO MB CHB, FRCA, FFPMRCA CONSULTANT IN PAIN MEDICINE & NEUROMODULATION

07761 487443 • norman@spineandpaincentre.com • www.spineandpaincentre.com Dr Norman Kufakwaro is a pain consultant who trained at Barts and the London School of Anaesthesia and Guys & St Thomas’ Hospital. His training included complex pain procedures including spinal cord stimulation, dorsal root ganglion stimulation, intrathecal pumps as well as procedures for disc pain. His main interests are spinal pain, sciatica, nerve pain, cancer pain, chronic headache, abdominal and pelvic pain. He specialises in management of a wide array of chronic pain conditions using latest techniques in pain management.

Areas of expertise include: • Pain Management • Diagnosis of painful conditions. • Treatment of painful conditions. • Establishing causality and prognosis of chronic pain conditions (including complex regional pain syndrome.) • Effects of injury on ability to work. • Physical symptoms following trauma. • Recommendations for treatment to facilitate rehabilitation. • Regular clinics for difficult pain conditions. • Complex regional pain syndrome. • Persistent post surgical pain. • Low back pain. • Neck pain. • Whiplash. • Persistent post injury pain.


Dr Michael Bone

BSc (Hons) MB DCH FRCP

Consultant Physician

Dr Michael Bone has been a Consultant Physician (General Internal, Respiratory and Clinical Allergy) for over 30 years and still provides supervision of acute unselected medical intake at one of England's consistently top performing NHS Trust Hospitals. Over the years he has acted as clinical lead in asthma and COPD, lung cancer, tuberculosis and interstitial lung diseases and critical care medicine. He ran a pleural diseases service, initiating medical thoracoscopy in 1985 and inaugurated a joint rheumatological lung clinic in the early 1990's. With early training in paediatrics and immunology, he ran a joint allergy and asthma service for 16 years and remains an active member of the northern paediatric allergy group.

Dr Bone has been engaged in medico-legal assessments and reporting since 1982. He has had extensive experience with occupational asthma and hypersensitivity reactions, such as farmers lung and industrial dust diseases, from his time at the MRC pneumoconiosis unit in South Wales and later in the Midlands. Over the last 18 years in the North East he has acquired extensive experience with asbestos related lung diseases.

Tel: 07545 587004 Email: rhonda_bone@hotmail.com Dr Michael Bone, M B Consulting Ltd, Spire Hospital, Picktree Lane, Washington, Tyne & Wear NE38 9JZ


MARCUS H ORNSTEIN

MB ChB FRCS Senior Lecturer & Retired Consultant Surgeon With forty years’ surgical experience, Marcus Ornstein has achieved an enviable reputation not only as a Consultant Surgeon but also for his medicolegal reporting for many solicitors and medical report agencies, as he outlined in a recent interview:

He then pursued general surgery and urology training in Bristol and at St Mary’s Hospital Medical School before taking up a post as locum Consultant Urologist at Charing Cross University Hospital. After one year he left the NHS to work full time in private practice, as a specialist general surgeon and urologist, in order to spend more time with his patients, providing them with a personal medical care.

I provide Medicolegal Reports to Solicitors for both claimant and defence, in a ratio of some 80% for claimant and 20% for defence and occasionally as a single joint expert.

After 15 years Mr Ornstein was asked by a colleague to help reduce their very long NHS waiting list for hernia and varicose vein surgery so he took up their locum consultant general surgeon post and did just that. He found he had missed the challenges of postgraduate teaching as well as working in the NHS and enjoyed the extra freedom reducing his private practice allowed. So he continued in long locum posts, specialising in breast surgery and culminating in the substantive post of Senior Lecturer in Surgery at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry and Honorary Consultant General Surgeon/ Lead of the Breast Unit at Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. After seven years in this post, Mr Ornstein retired from clinical practice on March 1st 2014 partly because demand for his medicolegal services had increased and, indeed, he is still receiving increasing numbers of instructions.

My key areas of expertise are general surgery/ laparoscopic surgery, hernia surgery, breast disease and abdominal trauma; I have some expertise in minor orthopaedic injury such as whiplash and my first consultant post was as a urologist in the late 1980s.” “My work in Medicolegal Reporting covers Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence. For a Clinical Negligence case, I either provide a medical report based on the patient’s clinical records, in which case the report would normally be for liability and causation only; or I also arrange to interview and examine the claimant, enabling me to provide a medical report that includes condition and prognosis.” Mr Ornstein is able to draw on the extensive experience gained from a very varied and wideranging medical career, as fully documented in his curriculum vitae. This has provided him with a broad, mature outlook as well as an attention to detail. Having qualified from Bristol University, Mr Ornstein went on to train in Bristol and at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London. He began his postgraduate training as a general practitioner, but soon switched to a hospital career, with an early interest in trauma and orthopaedics, including time in thoracic surgery.


“I am happy to give an initial, pro bono, broad opinion about a case after a short discussion on the telephone or by email or letter.” As well as this he has not given up his post-graduate teaching and continues as honorary senior lecturer largely teaching on the MSc in Surgical Science course at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University, but also on the Royal College of Surgeons short courses and he is on the editorial board of the Journal of Surgical Simulation.

Mr Ornstein was closely involved with the design and initial clinical trials of the prototype to the ‘Freehand’ (registered trademark) laparoscopic manipulator

Mr Ornstein maintained an interest in research even whilst in private practice, with studies into robotic laparoscopic surgery: his design of the first ever robotic laparoscope telescope manipulator was one of the exhibits in ‘The Future of Medicine’ display in the Millennium Dome and was the prototype to the ‘Freehand’ (registered trademark) laparoscopic manipulator which is now commercially available. Prior to that he had led a Medical Research Council multi-centre study of diverticular disease of the colon and since then has collaborated in a multi-centre study of mesh hernia repair and, as Senior Lecturer, has collaborated in national portfolio trials and local laboratory studies in breast carcinoma; he was lead of the Barts and The London collaboration in the Sloan Study of early breast cancer. He has made a DVD on ‘breast cancer awareness’ in black ethnic minorities and lead a controlled trial to assess the usefulness of medical DVDs in patient care. He has published 69 peer reviewed articles in international medical periodicals and has given numerous presentations at large and small surgical meetings throughout the UK and abroad. As you would expect from such a quality conscious Consultant Surgeon, Mr Ornstein regularly attends Medico-Legal updating courses and seminars such as those of Bond Solon and The Expert Witness Institute.

As well as seeing claimants in central London, North London and Guildford, Mr Ornstein is prepared to travel if necessary.

To discuss your individual medico-legal requirements, or for a copy of his CV, terms or a sample report, please contact:

Mr MH Ornstein MB, ChB, FRCS Consultant Surgeon & Senior Lecturer 136 Harley St, London W1G 7JZ 020 8423 8236 0771 386 0000 mark.ornstein@virgin.net www.marcusornstein.co.uk


The Stephen Kite Practice Mr Stephen Kite is an expert in podiatric medical matters, he qualified in 1986 and began practising podiatric medicine in 1987. He is founder of award winning The Stephen Kite Practice, based in Dorset. He has over 25 years of private practice experience and expertise. His expertise includes matters involving forensic analysis, podiatry expert witness, personal injury (including fully functional orthotics), medical negligence and malpractice and CCTV gait analysis. Mr Kite has extensive experience in providing expert Medico-Legal opinion since 2007 involving the following expert cases - Negligence, NHS Whistleblowing, Malpractice, Personal injury, Health Professions Council hearings and CCTV gait analysis in criminal cases (which involved identifying suspects from CCTV footage for the defence and the prosecution in criminal cases using gait analysis and is one of only a small group of Forensic Podiatrists worldwide who have used this method of identification or elimination of suspects.)

Mr. Stephen Kite

BSc (Podiatric Medicine) MChS DipPodMed HCPC

Expert Podiatrist

He has provided and reviewed evidence for the defence involving The Health & Care Professions Council, (the regulatory body for Podiatrists in the UK), and he has acted as the Expert to National Health Service Health Boards and been asked to assist in cases of NHS whistleblowing allegations. His expert evidence has been instrumental in some very complex medicolegal cases and he has been invited to talk about and demonstrate Forensic Podiatry methods on BBC1 TV. Mr Kite holds certification from Bond Solon in part 35 and the Practice Direction part 35 for the protocol for the instruction of Experts to give evidence in Civil Claims and the Practice Direction on pre-action conduct.


Awards and Nominations:

• Best Private Podiatry Practice South West of England Winner (2016) Pharmaceutical & Health Care Awards. • The Healthcare Leadership Award 2017 Nominee (Lead Tribune Media Group, publisher of Venue Magazine, Cincinnati). • Best Podiatry Practice Dorset (2017) Pharmaceutical & Health Care Awards. • Private Podiatry Practice of the Year 2018 (UK Enterprise Awards SME news).

Training:

Introduction into Forensic Podiatry Regents College, Regents Park, London. June (2007) – Gait Analysis CCTV, Shoe / footprint evidence collection medico-legal Certification, Bond Solon expert witness civil procedures rules (2015)

Membership:

The Society of Chiropodists & Podiatrists number 30134 Health Professions Council number CH18754 Member of APIL registers of expert witnesses (The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers Expert Witness). The expert list of The Society of Chiropodists & Podiatrists. The Federation of Forensic and Expert Witnesses.

Podiatrist Expert Witness

The title Podiatrist means “foot physician” – (podos = foot & iatros = physician)

T + F: 0800 756 9812 | E: s.kite@stephenkitepractice.co.uk | W: www.stephenkitepractice.co.uk


Mr. Ralph Graham FCPodS, FCPodM, BSc(Hons)

Consultant Podiatric Surgeon I have been a Consultant Podiatric Surgeon in Essex and Kent since 1985. I have now retired from the NHS but continue to offer care and surgery in private practice. I have reported for both claimants and defendants in cases involving podiatric surgery, diabetes foot treatment, general podiatry and biomechanics of the foot.

Areas of expertise include; •

Hallux valgus ('bunion') • Plantar fasciitis • Shock wave therapy • Foot surgery • Forefoot surgery • Neuroma Bunion surgery for younger patients. • The diabetic foot

I am happy to work within NHS Resolution report fees guidelines for short reports.

Training

Hons degree, Clinical Fellowship, 40 years practice

Expert Training

Trained in report writing, court appearance

Membership

Society Chiropodists & Podiatrists, College of Podiatry

Mr Ralph Graham M: 07850 898 385 E: ralph@ralphgraham.org Baddow Hopsital West Hanningfield Road Great Baddow Chelmsford Essex CM2 8HN


Mr Ramnik Patel MB BS, MS, MCh, DNBS, DNBPS, LL B (Gen), LL B (Spec), LL M, DTLP, DLLP, DIHR, DCH (Glas), DA (Dublin), DRCOG (Lon), DFSRH, LoC IUT, LoC SDI, FRCSEd (Gen Surg), FEBPS (Paed Surg), FRCS (Paed Surg), FEAPU (I)

Specialist General & Accident & Emergency Surgeon I am a specialist General, Paediatric Surgical and Paediatric Urologic Surgeon, and specialise in general practice, accident and emergency, paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology, sexual and reproductive health. I am basic medical doctor and an advocate of Gujarat High court registered at Bar Council of India and life member of medical associations of general doctors, general surgeons, paediatric surgeons, paediatric urologists, international law institute and a medico legal expert in India and abroad in the areas of my expertise-general practice, accident and emergency, general surgery, paediatric surgery and paediatric urology.

• General Practice • Accident And Emergency • Paediatrics • Obstetrics • Gynaecology • Sexual And Reproductive Health. 0116 289 3395 | 0116 289 3395 | 07956 896641 | patelramnik@rediffmail.com 26 Shipman Road | LEICESTER | Leicestershire | LE3 2YB


Mr Hany Ismaiel MBBCh MSc(Orth) FRCS(Glasgow) Dip Biomech

Consultant Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgeon Holding the position of consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Barnsley District General Hospital, as well as honorary senior clinical lecturer at the University of Sheffield, Mr Hany Ismaiel has extensive experience in orthopaedic and trauma surgery with primary interests in upper limb injury. Mr Ismaiel has undertaken medico legal instructions since 1993 and has experience of dealing with vast and complex cases. To date, he has completed over 7,000 reports on behalf of both claimant and defendant and as a Single Joint Expert (45% claimant, 45% defendant and 10% Single joint expert).

Mr Hany Ismaiel Tel: PA 07498 280757 Mobile: 07850 713839 Email: hany.ismaiel@hotmail.com Website: www.hanyismaiel.co.uk

Mr Ismaiel has made many court appearances over the years providing his expert opinion on matters relating to personal and industrial injury claims. He sees medico-legal clients in consulting rooms in London, Essex, Cardiff, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Worcestershire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire. All venues are within reach of public transport, city centres and easily accessible from motorways. He can also see patients from further afield.

All Medico Legal & Secretary Enquiries: 5 Fennell Court Carr Lane Wakefield WF2 6TS


Mr Christopher James Stoddard MB ChB MD, FRCS

Consultant General Upper GI & Laparoscopic Surgeon

Areas of Expertise: I have been active in medico legal practice since 1984. In the period from 1984 until 2002 this work was entirely related to personal injury claims. In the last 15 years I have become increasingly involved in clinical negligence cases and this type of work now accounts for over 90% of my medico legal work. I was appointed to my consultant post in Sheffield as a gastrointestinal surgeon but with increasing specialisation my clinical practice concentrated on upper gastrointestinal, laparoscopic and emergency abdominal surgery. I have undertaken work for the GMC and Ombudsman, being the lead adviser in all cases and also criminal work (murder trial).

My field of expertise for medico legal work relates to:

• Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery. • Laparoscopic Biliary Surgery. • Emergency Abdominal Surgery. • Hernia Surgery. Mr C J Stoddard Consultant Surgeon 0114 230 9284 07860 755394 christopherstoddard@btinternet.com

12 Slayleigh Lane Fulwood SHEFFIELD South Yorkshire S10 3RF


Award-winning RSW Medicolegal Ltd Outlines The Advantages Of Instruct Direct

Federation of

Forensic & Expert witnesses

Since its inception, Stourbridge-based RSW Medicolegal Ltd has achieved an enviable reputation for the provision of high quality Medico Legal Reports in the field of orthopaedic related personal injury cases. A highly experienced Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Founder and Managing Director of the Company, Richard Scott-Watson has been the Director and sole Medical Examiner at RSW (incorporating in 2001) for over 28 years. Able to draw on over 28 years’ experience, Mr. Scott-Watson is a single expert with a particular interest and expertise in general orthopaedics, fractures and trauma; musculoskeletal injuries and all aspects of bone and soft tissue injury including limb and spinal injuries. He is particularly interested in the disability aspect of cases, an as this is what matters most to the claimant. As you would expect from such a consummate professional, Mr. Scott-Watson is a member of the Oxford Medical and Legal Society, as well as attending industry-led conferences each year, depending on the relevance of the subject matter.

Richard Scott Watson

In a recent interview Mr. Scott-Watson outlined the advantages in an Expert Witness being instructed directly, as opposed to using the services of an agency/intermediary: “To begin with the solicitor gets to choose the expert. Some solicitors ask agencies only for the shortest waiting list but many solicitors prefer the direct contact once they have tried it. As it is far more efficient and cheaper. Some solicitors give the impression that agencies indicate that they can only get the expert through the agency and are surprised that direct instructions can be given. It is never the case that an agency owns an expert and direct instructions can always be sent. Another key advantage to instructing an Expert Witness directly would be that Agencies normally take around 50% or more of the fee the expert would normally charge. Therefore, unless the fee is regulated, the solicitor ends up being charged considerably more than the expert would charge direct in every case that they have (accidentally) revealed their charges – usually another 10 – 30%. The value to the expert is next to nothing, in fact frequently agencies obstruct the smooth running of a case. Of course, the practicality is that the expert accepts end of case payment with direct instruction, but for nearly twice the fee for the same work, that seems reasonable. Many claimant solicitors still seem to be unaware that when liability is admitted, the expert’s fee becomes a disbursement and there is no need to wait to end of case It is no coincidence that what used to be independent agencies have largely been bought out by big companies – they make a lot of money for the work they do.”


When asked if clients using an Agency always have access to the correct expert, who has experience in their particular niche, Mr. Scott-Watson told us: “No. The agencies rarely know or use the expert’s particular areas of specialisation. Some do not even get the speciality correct, and in the last year I have been sent two hernias and a head injury, neither of which are Orthopaedic cases. The criteria agencies use are usually things like speed of return of report but agencies often collect such data incorrectly and so fail to instruct the most efficient experts. I recently had an agency tell me that 25% of my cases were on time. In fact it was over 95% but their figures were skewed by them failing to correctly record when they were sent reports – resulting in the reports looking late and them asking for repeated duplicates – in one case seven times. The agencies also are first point of contact for many claimants – which many find a very tiresome process. In my experience, the benefits a client receives from instructing an expert directly in terms of cost, service and ease of liaising with the expert speak for themselves. In terms of cost, they get what they are paying for as opposed to the agency taking half of it or more. If there is a problem with a late set of documents or adjustment to a report this can be done quickly but through an agency, three weeks or more for every alteration is common. Some agencies hold reports for weeks before sending them on – the record I have seen is ten months. Needless to say the expert was blamed for the delay when it was entirely the fault of the agency. I have also had instructions to agencies being mis-interpreted, so one case recently where the agency had failed to send to correct notes, even though they had them, resulted in a significant delay in sending the report. Eventually the solicitor had to send the notes direct after I had been threatened with non-payment for the report due to delays: Delays entirely caused by the agency that passed on the threat. The Solicitor was very happy once the problem was sorted out direct, which probably would never have been possible if the agency had continued to be in the middle.” In what cases, can the use of an agency be a useful course of action, if any? “Agencies can be useful to experts as they provide volume, but they need to because of the very low fees they pay. They also provide diary systems (cost, but no value) and electronic transmission of records (cost, but no value).” When asked if there were any legal developments or incoming Government legislative changes that will affect the use of agencies and/or experts in the future, Mr. Scott-Watson explained: “I think MedCo really missed a trick in stopping fraud. The initial GP reports are almost valueless and entirely subjective as they do not insist on the contemporaneous notes, which are vital in every case. Equally, with agencies taking most of the fee in these cases, the time taken to complete a case is about a third of what is required to do the job properly in most cases. They actually encourage fraud, as all the claimant has to do is either say they are already recovered (so nothing to find and contradict) or that the symptoms were severe, but no longer are. This means that a high level of disability is recorded for part of the period prior to the report being written, which had by that time partially recovered. In almost every case where I see the claimant later, the contemporaneous notes contradict all or most of any period of severe disability. As the Government changes the scenery, we currently have little or no idea what the future holds, but the recent increase in fees for agencies will probably lead only one way – agencies taking an even greater percentage of the fee for the small percentage of the work they do.”


In short, the overall benefits in instructing an Expert Witness directly are as follows: • • • •

Solicitors are able to choose their expert, with whom they are able to build a good working relationship over time. Experts get paid correctly for their work, with reduced risk compared to working through agencies. Cases do not get delayed through there being a middle man and instructions are passed directly from instructor to expert, meaning that they are not then mis-interpreted by a third party (who is normally not medically or legally qualified). In short, it is a more efficient manner of conducting cases and all parties should have a more rewarding experience, including the claimant as the whole process is a more personal one.

RSW is no stranger when it comes to receiving accolades, having been singled out in 2014/15 by the Senior Management team of the Forensic & Expert Witness E-Magazine who voted unanimously in favour RSW Medicolegal as the recipient of the Medico-legal Services Award for 2014/15. This Award reflects the experience and professional expertise that the firm offers in the writing of medico-legal reports and in the provision of Expert Witness testimony.

Additional Awards: • • • • • • • •

2018 Corporate Intl Magazine Global Award:‘ Orthopaedic Therapy Expert Witness of the Year in England’ Orthopaedic Expert Witness (the UK) Leaders in Law (LIL) for 2017/18 2017, Global Law Experts 100. Orthopaedic Surgeon and Disability Analyst Expert of the Year – UK Winner: FORENSIC INSIDER Orthopaedic Award 2016 Winner: Lawyer Monthly Magazine Orthopaedic Expert Witness of the Year 2016 and 2017 Winner: Forensic and Expert Witness E Magazine Medico Legal Award 2014/15 & 2016/2017 Winner: Forensic and Expert Witness E Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award for Trauma & Orthopaedics. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

RSW Medico Legal Ltd

Tel: 01384 441 126 Email: carolcouzens@ymail.com rswmedicolegal@gmail.com Linkedin: • uk.linkedin.com/pub/richard-scott-watson/34/4bb/531/


Mr Firas F Jamil

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon MB ChB, FRCS Ed, FRCS, MSc (Surgery)

Mr Firas F Jamil is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon based in Leeds. Since qualifying in 1972 Mr Jamil has acquired a vast knowledge of Orthopaedics with specific interest in spinal disorders. Mr Jamil provides care to spinal injured patients. 40% of them have unstable spine but no nerve damage. He also deals with consequences of spinal cord injuries such as; Implants for Nerve Pain Management of Movement Disorders Back Pain Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Neuropathic Pain (Nerve Pain) Spinal Injury Trapped Nerve Whiplash Associated Disorder. Mr Jamil is Honorary Senior Lecturer and Principal Visiting Research Fellow, University of Leeds, He is also involved in research on human motor function, including robotics.

He is fluent in English and Arabic.

Memberships: * Association of Minimally Invasive Surgeons of UK and Ireland * British Pain Society * British and International Neuromodulation Societies * Federation of Forensic and Expert Witnesses * British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine * British Association of Spinal Injuries Specialists * International Standards Organisation (Robotics) * British Standards Institute (Robotics)

The Old Vicarage Jacksons Lane Wentbridge Pontefract WF8 3HZ

Call or email Tel:07748 386 969 Email: Sbaran163@outlook.com



Consultant Neurosurgeon & Spinal Surgeon Mr Matthias WR Radatz MD (Berlin), CCST (Neuro) (Berlin), FRCS (Eng)

Areas of Expertise:

I am a Consultant Neurosurgeon in a very busy tertiary unit and Teaching Hospital offering a regional, national and international service. I continue to offer an elective and on-call/emergency service.

I have medico-legal experience in: • Head injury. • Spinal disorders: backpain, whiplash, degenerative and complex cases. • Cerebrovascular disorders. • General neurosurgery. • Stereotactic radiosurgery. • Medical negligence. • Extensive medicolegal experience I have comprehensive medico-legal experience in personal injury and negligence claims including joint expert conferences and court attendance. I have been lead clinician for over 5 years and programme director for neurosurgery. Member of the SAC and council of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons (SBNS), ex-chair Stereotactic Radiosurgery CRG and currently president of the British Radiosurgery Society.

For further information Please Contact BMI Thornbury Hospital 312 Fulwood Road SHEFFIELD South Yorkshire S10 3BR

0114 255 1684 07985 221640 (Sec) 07881 943110 radatz@blueyonder.co.uk radatz.secretary@gmail.com


Dr. Deepak Jain SENIOR MEDICAL LEADERSHIP

MBBS, MD, FRCP, Msc, PGCert

I joined NHS in 1991, and i am a Consultant in General and Elderly Medicine at the QE II Hospital, East and North Herts since 1997, besides working as: • Senior Lecturer, Royal Free/UCL Medical School, • Clinical tutor, • Foundation Programme Director, • Associate regional advisor, medicine. • Clinical Lead Clinician for revalidation of trainee doctors, Eastern Region, • Panellist, Clinical Case Managers Eastern Deanery and Clinical Governance Committees. • Formerly, Clinical Director, elderly medicine, NHS. I attended Medico- Legal Training (2010), and, i am a • Registered in expert witness (www.expertwitness. co.uk). • Bond and Solon Course including Courtroom Skills 2018 also Excellence in report writing 2018 and Cross examination 2018 and Civil Law and Procedures 2019 and i have the Certificate of expert Witness 2019. University of Cardiff Proficient in General internal medicine, Falls, Syncope, Stroke, cardiovascular diseases affecting elderly, and mental capacity assessments, I’m interested in undertaking related medico-legal works. MEMBERSHIP OF LEARNED SOCIETIES: • Royal College of Physicians • Fellow of British Society of Medical leaders • British Heart Failure Society • British Medical Association and The Federation of Forensic and Expert witnesses QUALIFICATIONS: 2014 PG Cert Medical Education 2011 MSc Senior Medical Leadership, RCP 2001 FRCP UK 1992 MRCP UK 1983 MD, K.G. Medical College, Lucknow, India 1977 MBBS, K.G. Medical College, Lucknow, India AWARDS AND HONOURS: School honours for academics Distinction in Mathematics (0 Level) Distinctions in Physics and Chemistry A level National Scholarship for Medical studies 1st prize in University Sitar recital competition. I will be completing the certificate of Cardiff university in 2019. CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD: Bronze (9)

Dr. Deepak Jain Senior medical leadership MBBS, MD, FRCP, Msc, PGCert Department of Medicine for the Elderly Lister Hospital Corry Mills Road Stevenage Tel No: 07715420812 E mail: deepak@jains.eu deepak.jain@nhs.net No:07715420812 (for medico legal enquiries)

Federation of

Forensic & Expert witnesses


Dr Anjani Prasad BSc (Hons), MBChB, FRCP

Consultant Respiratory & General Physician

Expert Witness in Respiratory Diseases

Areas include:

• • • • • • • •

Respiratory diseases. Asthma and occupational asthma. COPD. Asbestos related lung disease. Road traffic related breathing problems. Lung functions including spirometry. Interstitial lung disease. Pulmonary embolism.

For further information please contact Dr Anjani Prasad

0330 053 8151 admin@liberatehealthcare.co.uk. www.liberatehealthcare.co.uk


Ashok Bohra MBBS, MS, MPhil, MFSTEd, PG Dip (Clin Edu), FRCSEd FRCS (Gen Surg)

Consultant General, Laparoscopic & Upper GI Surgeon Mr. Bohra has an active interest in medico legal work. He is based in Midlands and sees clients in Birmingham, Halesowen and Derby. He is aware of the requirements of Part 35 and Practice Direction 35, the Protocol for the Instruction of Experts to give Evidence in Civil Claims and the Practice Direction on pre-action conduct. He obtained the ‘Bond Solon Civil Procedure Rules for Expert Witnesses Certificate’ to evidence his understanding and compliance with the above requirements.

He provides reports for a variety of General and Gastrointestinal Surgical cases, Accident claims, and Negligence claims. He has experience of providing report for claimants, defendants and joint representation and joint reporting.

He has undertaken numerous courses and attended relevant conferences to keep himself updated in the field.

Clients can be seen within a week and a detailed report with a summary will generally be prepared within 2 weeks or sooner if required, after receiving all relevant documents and information following the instruction. Reports will be addressed to the court. No conditional cases (where fee is dependant on outcome) are undertaken.

He has been providing medical expert witness reports over the last 8 years for law firms and agencies across the country. He is a member of the BMLS (Birmingham Medico Legal Society) and the National Expert Witness Agency (NEWA). He has also worked for NHS LA and has been an invited speaker for NHS LA in the past.

The OPD Derby Private Health Royal Derby Hospital Uttoxeter Road Derby DE22 3NE

The medico legal interest in surgical issues includes medico legal reports, case management reporting, injury or trauma including hernia, accident claim, emergency surgery, medical errors, medical negligence, clinical negligence and accident claims pertaining to general health care, symptoms, major and minor general surgical procedures and complications, and subspecialty issues related to abdominal, laparoscopic, bariatric and gastrointestinal surgery.

He regularly works with some of the top solicitors across the country and also with medico-legal companies. For further information, ’Terms and Conditions’ and medicolegal appointments, please contact him directly through email, or the enquiry form on his website for his services as a medical expert witness.

BMI The Priory Hospital Priory Road BIRMINGHAM West Midlands B5 7UG

01332 783423 | 07812 112820 | enquiries@ashokbohra.co.uk natalie.brealey@nhs.net | http://ashokbohra.co.uk


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