Karen Dean

Karen qualified in 1997 and joined Hempsons in 1998. She has specialised in healthcare law for over 25 years. She acts for NHS bodies and represents clients in proceedings relating to medical treatment, welfare issues. Karen regularly acts on behalf of healthcare providers in applications to the Court of Protection concerning deprivation of liberty and best interests. She regularly advises health bodies in relation to SEND tribunals. Karen has a background in clinical negligence law and has represented practitioners in the past.

Karen has advised on a range of health and social care issues including child protection, IVF treatment, complaints resolution, mental capacity issues; and regulatory proceedings relating to social workers.

Main areas of expertise

• healthcare advice and ethics
• Court of Protection
• NHS continuing healthcare
• commissioning decisions
• mental capacity (including the Court of Protection)
• mental health
• SEND tribunals

The clients she works with

• NHS acute, mental health and foundation trusts
• NHS commissioning bodies
• independent providers of health and social care

Cases Karen has been involved with

• The landmark case of Re A (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation) [2000] 4 All ER 961, where she acted for the NHS trust in obtaining a declaration as to the lawfulness of proposed surgery which was the subject of the appeal. 
• The Alder Hey enquiry

Publications

• Chapter 20: “The Courtroom: Capacity to litigate, fitness to plead and fitness to be a witness” from “Assessing Mental Capacity: A Handbook to Guide Professionals from Basic to Advanced Practice” (Routledge)