Dr. James Rankine

Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist, Leeds General Infirmary and honorary Clinical Associate Professor of Radiology University of Leeds.

Dr Rankine is an expert in all aspects of musculoskeletal radiology, with a particular interest in spinal imaging. He is the lead radiologist for one of the largest multidisciplinary spinal meetings in the UK, incorporating both neurosurgical and orthopaedic spinal practice.

He has over 25 years’ experience in medico-legal practice and is regularly instructed to provide expert evidence in personal injury and medical negligence cases involving a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. He has a particular expertise in spinal trauma and degenerative spinal disease. He produces over 100 reports a year exclusively in the field of musculoskeletal radiology and chest X-ray reporting. The reports are firmly rooted in personal experience of evidence-based practice.

He has extensive experience of meetings with Counsel, opposing witnesses and joint witness reporting. He has given evidence to the court on five occasions, on behalf of both claimant and defence counsel. He is instructed by the claimant in 60% and 40% by the defendant.

Dr Rankine has authored over 50 publications in musculoskeletal and spinal imaging. His work has been recognised with the Editor’s Medal from the Royal College of Radiologists. He has a comprehensive knowledge of literature relating to the significance of spinal MRI findings and is regularly instructed as an expert witness in this area. He gave evidence before the Court of Session in Edinburgh in the landmark case Wilson v North Lanarkshire Council, which successfully challenged the assertion that repetitive trauma causes disc degeneration.

He teaches at the Leeds Radiology Academy and has established the successful free online teaching platform mskradvideos.com.