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Podcast: Walking the tightrope – patient capacity, best interests, and disclosure
Stephen Maratos and Stephen Evans discuss patient capacity and best interest decisions when it comes to treatment, and the importance of accurate disclosure in inquests and civil claims.
UK COVID-19 Inquiry Module 2 opens
On 31 August the COVID-19 Inquiry opened its second investigation, Module 2, focusing on government decision making.
UK COVID-19 Inquiry launches first investigation
Prime Minister confirms Terms of Reference for the COVID-19 Inquiry
The Prime Minister has published the final Terms of Reference for the COVID-19 Inquiry, confirming in a written statement yesterday that “The UK inquiry into COVID-19 is now formally established and able to begin its important work”.
Scope of COVID-19 Inquiry to be broadened
UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry online consultation ends at 23:59 on 7 April 2022
The UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry will examine the UK’s pandemic response and identify learning and make recommendations to support the UK being better prepared to respond to future pandemics.
The draft terms of reference for the COVID-19 Public Inquiry have been announced
The draft terms of reference for the COVID-19 public inquiry have been announced. These are wide-ranging and cover the public health response, including how and when decisions were made; how the NHS and wider health and social care system responded, including issues or capacity and resilience; and the economic response.
COVID-19 public inquiry – Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett appointed as Chair
On 15 December the Prime Minister appointed the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett DBE as Chair of the forthcoming public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic.
Getting ready for the COVID-19 Public Inquiry – webinars
We have launched our COVID-19 inquiry webinar series.
Getting ready for the COVID-19 public inquiry
As we reported in June 2021, local NHS organisations have been told that they must start preparing for the statutory public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic which is expected to begin in spring 2022. Any organisation can be called upon to provide evidence for the statutory inquiry, and individuals may be required to give evidence under oath. With extensive public inquiry experience, Hempsons is here to help.
Accommodation claims – where do we stand after Swift v Carpenter?
On 9 October 2020 the Court of Appeal handed down Judgment in Swift v Carpenter [2020] EWCA Civ 1295. This article sets out the decision in Swift and considers where we are now.
Surrogacy costs – discussion of case law and recent Supreme Court case of Whittington Hospital NHS Trust v XX
On 1 April 2020, the Supreme Court handed down Judgment in the case of Whittington Hospital NHS Trust v XX. Stephen Maratos and Vicky Rowlands discuss the case.
Vicarious Liability and independent contractors – recent Supreme Court decisions
On 1 April 2020 the Supreme Court handed down two Judgments in Barclays Bank Plc v Various Claimants [2020] UKSC 13 and WM Morrisons Supermarkets Plc v Various Claimants [2020] UKSC 12 in which the Court appears to be moving against vicarious liability. This article sets out the decision in Barclays Bank and considers the independent contractor Defence.
Sanderson v Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust – the role of NICE Guidelines in clinical negligence cases
This case highlights that the NICE Guidelines are not intended to provide a practitioner with the complete description of the appropriate management and must be interpreted in conjunction with clinical judgment in light of the whole clinical picture.