Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
MBBS, DCH, FRCOG, PhD, Hon PhD
Leeds, West Yorkshire & Nationwide
MY ROLE AS EXPERT WITNESS IN MEDICO-LEGAL CASES
Since my appointment as a Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1991, I have been regularly asked for advice on medico-legal issues both within the trust for defence and by solicitors acting for Claimants. I retired from my NHS consultant post after 27years (on 1st March 2017), and recently retired from private clinical practice (on 1st of April 2025).
In 2022, I completed the Cardiff University Bond Solon’s (CUBS) online training course in Civil Law cases with certification and since have attended their and other legal training courses (MKLP etc) regularly to keep abreast with updates and training in legal practice.
Now I am engaged in medico-legal practice as an expert witness, and in recent years have reported on 12-20 cases per year. I have been called upon to report as an Expert by both Claimants and Defendants in a ratio of 80:20. Between 1st of Jan 2022 and 1st of Jan 2025, in the 3 years, I have acted as a Medical Expert in 44 cases and have provided approximately 74 reports.
My areas of expertise
I specialise in all subjects related to Benign Gynaecology, Reproductive Medicine, Surgery and all Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART).
The common subjects that I have reported upon recently include:
(Please note that this list is not exhaustive and has been composed to serve as a guide of the subjects that I have reported upon in the recent years. Also refer to standard NHS definitions for "Near Miss", "Serious Untoward Incident (SUI)" and "Never Event")
Infertility related to: Pelvic Sepsis, Peritonitis, Tubal disease, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Endocrine issues pertaining to Reproductive, Menstrual, Gynaecological and Mental health: Menopause, Premature menopause and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (inherited or Induced), Reproductive Endocrine and Hype-androgenic disorders such as Polycystic Ovary syndrome, Benign Ovarian Cysts.
Accidental Injuries with implications to gynaecological health: For example, pelvic injury or fracture, including injuries sustained during first trimester of pregnancy (first trimester only as I gave up Obstetrics in 2005), their immediate impact and implications to long-term Reproductive, Menstrual, Gynaecological, Sexual and Mental health.
Fertility Preservation (including Mature Egg and Ovary Preservation): For example, in relation to survivors of cancer (both children and adults, males and females) where fertility preservation options with modern ART techniques should/could have been offered before potentially sterilising treatments but were not considered.
Misdiagnosis leading to "SUI" and "Near Miss": I have reported on several cases where both a potentially reversible and irreversible impact on gynaecological and reproductive life has occurred as a result of Breach of Duty.
"Never Event": I have reported in a case of Breach of Duty resulting in a grievous, life-long irreversible impact. It was classified as per NHS definition a "Never Event."
Failure in taking an Informed Consent - There have been cases where clients have retrospectively discovered that they had not received comprehensive information about all available options, were not explained and/or not had not understood all implications and/or did not have an opportunity to reflect, read and ask questions for elective, non-life threatening procedures, before undergoing treatments that resulted in irreversible impact/s.
