MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE. Michael A. Jones B.A., LL.M., Ph.D.,

Transcription

1 MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE by Michael A. Jones B.A., LL.M., Ph.D., Solicitor of the Supreme Court Professor of Common Law ofth.e University of Liverpool Contributing Editor: - Muiris Lyons, LL.B., LL.M. Solicitor of the,supreme Court Partner and Head of Clinical Negligence Department, Stewarts Law LLP SWEET & MAXWELL feffil THOMSON REUTERS

2 ...CONTENTS. : PAGE Preface v... vii Preface t o first edition... *... -;., x i Abbreviations... s i xix Table of,cases.... ( : xxv Table of Statutes cvi Table of S t a t u t o r y I n s t r u m e n t s ' : ' ' '. ' c x v Table of Civil Procedure Rules.. cxix Table of Practice Directions..., ' cxxi Table of Pre-Action Protocols-. ' cxxii Table-of National-Legislation.... cxxiii Table of European and International Conventions and Treaties. cxxiv Table of European Directives... cxxv... P A R A 1. MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE IN CONTEXT Medical accidents and claims data a malpractice crisis? v Defensive medicine-...; :... v. : No-fault compensation Making Amends, The NHS. Redress Act '...-..,.., Human Rights.-....,..,...,../..' THE BASIS.OF. LIABILITY. r...,,.-l ' 1. CONTRACT..,.:...;...;.,.:...: ; r 1. Reasonable care ^ Express and implied)warranties.:...v...:...: _..-.. ;...:..'."..'." TORT...'..'.:;,..'...,. ;..' Duty, of care -..,.,.: Duty.to the patient...-..: Duty, to third parties, Psychiatric harm... :..;....:..;...;..; ' Duty owned by third parties to prevent harm., ; by a doctor.;..;...:.:

3 xiv CONTENTS 3. STANDARD OF CARE GENERAL PRINCIPLES The Basic Principle Common professional practice Experimental or novel techniques.< Keeping up to date Errors of Judgment Unforeseeable harm Degrees of Risk Specialists ' Inexperience Alternative medical practice Emergencies The consequences for other cases the Compensation Act Policy and defensive medicine ' ' Proof of Breachi..., ' : STANDARD OF CARE SPECIFIC INSTANCES : FAILURE TO ATTEND OR TREAT ERRORS IN DIAGNOSIS ' Failure to take a full medical history Wrong diagnosis Failure to spot something "serious" ' -...; Failure to revise initial diagnosis :...;.' Failure to arrange for tests for diagnosis Failure to consult or refer patient to a specialist Overtesting...; ' FAILURES OF ADVICE AND COMMUNICATION' Failure to warn about.'risks...' Failure to give proper instructions to-the patient....;. = The mariner- in which information is communicated to the patient ;...'. '...-, Failure to communicate with other health professionals Medico-legal reports...i.; ' : ERRORS IN TREATMENT Operations., : ' - 2. Causing or failing to prevent infection'..'... :.:? : : Miscalculating drug reactions Injections : Failure to monitor treatment.:.:......:.; ' 6. Lack, of resources v<.-.v MENTAL HEALTH,..;.., Failing to control the patient,.*..'...:. * '. 2. Negligent certification Procedural bars 4-149

4 CONTENTS XV 5. CAUSATION AND REMOTENESS OF DAMAGE CAUSATION IN FACT The "but for" test '.,, Proof of causation Exceptions to the requirement to satisfy "but for" causation." ' Loss of a chance CAUSATION IN LAW Successive sufficient causes Intervening Acts REMOTENESS OF DAMAGE Manner of the occurrence Type of harm Extent of the harm..' :..; :.' The "eggshell skull" rule : Claimant's impecuniosity : i 6. CONSENT TO TREATMENT, Battery Consent as a defence to battery : Forms of consent Consent must be valid ' Children Adults who lack capacity to consent.to treatment Emergency (temporary incapacity), : Refusals of consent INFORMED CONSENT THE DUTY OF DISCLOSURE The "prudent" doctor standard The standard applied,in other jurisdictions What must be disclosed voluntarily? Asking questions CAUSATION : Battery and causation Causation in negligence SPECIAL CASES Research Transplantation Omission to warn about risk of sterilisation failing CONFIDENTIALITY THE LEGAL DUTY TO RESPECT CONFIDENCES SCOPE OF THE DUTY OF CONFIDENCE- EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE ; Consent by the patient Sharing information with others providing care 8-025

5 XVI CONTENTS 3. Medical emergency Children.and other.patients who may lack (' competence to consent : Abuse.or. neglect...;.. / ; Statutory obligations Clinical audit ' Medical research,.epidemiology, financial audit or '. administration :...;:, Disclosure to a court or. in connection with litigation Disciplinary proceedings -..: ; Disclosure in the public interest.! DAMAGES... ; [ LIABILITY OF HOSPITALS AND CONTRIBUTION ' VICARIOUS LIABILITY DIRECT LIABILITY Organisational errors ' 2. Non-delegable Duty -. : ' 3. JOINT LIABILITY AND. CONTRIBUTION NHS INDEMNITY :.-.:.....< DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS : CONTRACT.-*, TORT :...; :. : Manufacturers'duty.:..."...;, ;...> ' Intermediate inspection What is "defective"? Warnings '' '40-03'6 5. Failure to warn and causation Continuing duty ' ;... ' Common practice ;..;;.::.:-... : Proof.'...:. : i Causation in fact,...: CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT Claimants....:..-..: ;...':..'.: Defendants, Products :,..,.: Defects : ; ' 5. Types of loss :...: Causation '." '..^ ;, Defences DEFENCES AND LIMITATION.,.....:. : DEFENCES ;.. ;... ' Contributory negligence." > / Volenti non fit injuria..: Illegality::...:...:: ; '

6 CONTENTS xvii. 2. LIMITATION...: Personal Injuries and.death.....: ;....:.-....' ,-.-2. Commencementof.the Three-Year-Period...; '.--'..' 3. Court's.discretion...V. -. : ' 4. Death,.-.,: : Persons under, a-disability ' '' ' 6. Deliberate.Concealment.>.'...-.'..:::' '-"'.: ' 7. Defective Products ' '8. Latent damage., ;.-.' ' : ' 9. Contribution.Proceedings :.:>.}:...:....' " New claims.in.pending, actions ; ; Burden of proof.,..'... - ' Issuing the Claim Form DISMISSAL FOR WANT OF PROSECUTION DAMAGES.:, -.:..:.:,..-...: ', INTRODUCTION '..' r: - 1. What is personal injury?."...-..'...;.' GENERAL PRINCIPLES Types of damages The form of the award: lump sum or periodical payments Interest Mitigation of damage? PERSONAL INJURIES: PECUNIARY LOSSES Medical and other expenses Loss of Earnings Deductions PERSONAL INJURIES: NON-PECUNIARY LOSSES Pain and suffering Loss of Faculty and Amenity WRONGFUL BIRTH McFarlane: The healthy child the mother's claim The disabled child The disabled parent Loss offertility Wrongful life ; 6. DEATH, Survival of actions Fatal Accidents PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE INTRODUCTION COMPLAINT : FUNDING Private Insurance

7 xvni CONTENTS 3. Public. Funding Conditional Fee Agreements ;. ; ACCESS TO HEALTH RECORDS ; Data Protection Act 1998 : > Access to Health Records Act Access to Medical Reports Act Using medical records.in evidence ;..-..; " DISCLOSURE AND THE PROTOCOL Pre-Action Disclosure.' Post-Action Disclosure :.* Privilege,, THE ROLE OF EXPERTS..-. ; PAGE Appendix 1: NHS-Indemnity Appendix 2: Pre-Action Protocol for the Resolution of. Clinical. ; * Disputes Glossary of medical terms _., Index