Medical Negligence Masterclass Series: Spotlight on Obstetric Negligence
Bringing together a panel of experts passionate about this area of medical negligence – this webinar is your opportunity to deepen your understanding and knowledge of obstetrics negligence claims. Hear an explanation of the medicine, obtain important guidance on what to do if you are retained to commence proceedings, receive practical advice on building the defence and explore the evidentiary challenges specific to obstetric negligence claims WEB2212N08BZ
Description
Attend and earn 2.5 CPD units including:
2.0 units in Substantive Law
0.5 unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Chair: Leanne Dillon, General Counsel, Royal Hospital for Women
Professional Skills
10.00am to 10.50am The Medicine Explained
- Understanding the different lens through which doctors and lawyers view medicine through a different lens
- The medical expert witness is not an advocate
- Medicine as an imperfect science
- Poor clinical outcomes do not always reflect poor clinical practice
Presented by Dr Vijay Roach, Obstetrician and Gynecologist
10.50am to 11.40am Developing the Plaintiff’s Case
- The common types of obstetric cases and trends of cases over the years
- Identifying the elements of the case including causation and aspects of damages
- The use of Clinical Guidelines in investigating obstetric cases
- An exploration of case studies highlighting the issues of some of the major types of obstetrics negligence claims
Presented by Kathryn Booth, Principal, Maurice Blackburn; Preeminent Medical Negligence Compensation Lawyers (Plaintiff), Doyles Guide 2021 and Milly Cain, Lawyer, Maurice Blackburn
11.40am to 11.50am Break
11.50 to 12.40pm Building the Defence
- How to critically examine the medical evidence
- Identifying the correct expert medical specialist to review the medicine
- Identification of strengths and weaknesses in the plaintiff’s case and what to do about them
Presented by Maddalena Del Vecchio, Partner, Moray & Agnew; Recommended Medical Negligence & Malpractice Lawyers (Defendant) – Doyles Guide 2021
Presenters
Leanne Dillon
Leanne Dillon is General Counsel at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne. She is an experienced legal and governance executive with extensive experience and understanding of the government and not for profit sector. With a background in nursing, Leanne now specialises in health and medical law and has worked across a range of executive management roles including Legal Counsel, Board Secretary and Director Clinical Governance and Medico-Legal. Leanne also has a strong interest in governance and holds a Director position on the Board of cohealth, the largest provider of community health services in Victoria.
Dr Vijay Roach
Vijay is an obstetrician and gynaecologist with more than 20 years experience. He consults in general gynaecology with interests in miscarriage, traumatic birth experience, contraception, menopause, infertility, menstrual disturbances, vulval and vaginal disorders and abnormal cervical pathology. He has a particular interest in the importance of integrating psychological and physical health. Vijay is the Past President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and a well-regarded teacher and public speaker in Australia and overseas.
Kathryn Booth
Kathryn Booth is a Principal of Maurice Blackburn and head of the national Medical Negligence team which is the largest Plaintiff practice in Australia. She is an expert in medical malpractice law and practices exclusively on behalf of patients and their families. Kathryn has specialized in medical cases since 1991 and has achieved hundreds of settlements for adults and children through the Supreme, County, Coroners and High Courts. In 2016, she was listed by the prestigious Doyle's Guide and the Australian Financial Review and as one of the best medical negligence lawyers in Australia. Kathryn is a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law and also the Chair of the Law Institute Litigation Executive Committee. In alliance with the Monash University Michael Kirby Centre, Kathryn also established pro bono legal clinic for patients at The Alfred Hospital in early 2014. The HeLP Clinic, the first of its kind in Australia, provides legal triage to hospital patients and their families. Kathryn has the title of Honorary Duty Solicitor Alfred Hospital, and she is also the legal supervisor of the clinic.
Milly Cain
Milly first joined the medical negligence team in 2015 as a paralegal. Milly was admitted to practice in 2019 and was a lawyer in our public liability team before re-joining the medical negligence team in 2021. “Legal processes are difficult for individuals to navigate. I want to ensure that people are compensated when they suffer an injury through no fault of their own. While I can't undo the trauma our clients suffer, I can fight to help ease the financial burden associated with life-long injuries. Through my work, I can assist individuals and their families to move forward." Milly takes an analytical and technical approach to her work. And at the same time, ensures she conveys advice to clients in a meaningful way so that her clients understand what can otherwise be a complex process. Milly is committed to findings ways to remove the barriers that persons with a disability can face when accessing legal services. She is a member of the firm’s Accessibility and Inclusion Group and a member of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Disability Law committee.
Maddalena Del Vecchio
Maddalena Del Vecchio provides advice and acts in matters across all aspects of health law including defending civil claims, disciplinary complaints, hospital inquiries, coronial inquests, Medicare inquiries and employment disputes. Maddalena also has experience in advising on policy interpretation and providing indemnity advice to insurers. Maddalena has been involved in several special inquiries including the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into off protocol prescribing of chemotherapy and a discrete inquiry by the NSW Minister for Health into a department of a Sydney Hospital. Maddalena is listed in the 2020 Doyles Guide as a Recommend Lawyer in the area of Medical Negligence and Malpractice (defendant) NSW.