Healthcare Law
Hayes solicitors has Ireland’s largest legal team dedicated solely to medical and dental defence litigation. We understand the medico-legal landscape and the complex challenges facing today’s medical indemnifiers and the medical and dental practitioners and other healthcare professionals they serve.
Our team offers specific and unique skills in dealing with medical/dental negligence claims and is also highly experienced in handling inquests, Medical and Dental Council complaints, Tribunal hearings, and in advising medical personnel on medico-legal and ethical issues and contractual/employment matters.
We have been involved in many landmark cases and have lectured extensively on key aspects of medical law.
We are sensitive to the stress that a claim of negligence or complaint to a regulatory body can place on medical practitioners and staff. We provide a hands-on, fast and efficient service to those involved.
In recent years Hayes has taken a leading role in advocating reform to Ireland’s system for clinical negligence litigation with the goal of producing a fairer and more efficient process for all concerned – plaintiffs and defendants.
Services
Our services cover:
- Medical negligence claims
- Catastrophic injury claims
- Medical Council matters
- Dental Council matters
- Alternative dispute resolution, including mediation
- Disciplinary hearings
- Inquests
- Statutory inquiries
- Ethical issues
- Clinical trials
- Consent and confidentiality
- Professional indemnity
- Health and safety issues
- Risk management issues
- Data Protection and Freedom of Information advices.
Experience
Hayes has Ireland’s largest dedicated healthcare team and has been at the forefront of healthcare legal issues for more than 60 years. Our credentials include:
- Solicitors to the Clinical Indemnity Scheme since its inception, defending high value and complex claims taken by patients against a variety of hospitals as well as looking after the interests of clinicians, nurses and hospitals at coroners' inquests
- More than 60 years’ experience of acting for and advising the Medical Protection Society, a key indemnifier of doctors in Ireland. We defend clinical negligence claims in the Circuit Court, High Court and Supreme Court acting on behalf of consultants and general practitioners. We also look after the interests of doctors at coroners' inquests and at fitness to practise inquiries before the Medical Council
- We act for Dental Protection, a key indemnifier of dentists in Ireland, defending clinical negligence claims. We also look after dentists during fitness to practise inquiries by the Dental Council
- Hayes has been involved in the vast majority of the benchmark legal cases and challenges in healthcare in Ireland, particularly in major cases on consent and complex high value cerebral palsy/catastrophic injury claims
- We are leading the way in developing pre-action protocols and developing innovative ideas geared towards early stage and cost-effective resolution. Hayes hosted a major conference on these issues in May 2014 in Dublin. Read more.
- We regularly advise on issues related to consent, record keeping, confidentiality, end-of-life issues, communication and open disclosure
- For the Veterinary Defence Society, an indemnity provider, we deal with clinical negligence claims in the Circuit Court, High Court and Supreme Court acting on behalf of veterinarians, as well as looking after their fitness to practise inquiries before the Veterinary Council
- We act for the Medical Bureau of Road Safety in relation to Freedom of Information requests it receives up to and including submissions to the Information Commissioner.
What clients say: Healthcare Law
"Each member of the team provides excellent support and advice. Their response times are always excellent."
‘Qualities that staff value is the person’s knowledge and understanding. They provide direction and support. I can call them any time of day or evening for advice. I most admire and respect Katy Meade (partner). Katy is a joy to work with. Her direction is clear. The clinical staff feel very supported by Katy.’
‘Mary Hough – vast experience in leading Hayes solicitors healthcare team. She achieves excellent results for clients.’
'Katy Meade achieves excellent results for clients.’
"All the team members in the practice, which I have dealt with are professional in their dealings, are very knowledgeable and most of all, very approachable. The practice provided an excellent and efficient service."
"Mary Hough, Louise O’Rourke, Stephen McGuinness and Deirdre O’Sullivan are superb and great to work with."
"Mary really is a leading and experienced clinical negligence lawyer. She has particular skill in the most expensive of claims, and is a complete expert in catastrophic claims"
"She is very highly regarded"
"Mary Hough is an excellent clinical litigation solicitor who has extraordinary subject matter expertise along with an ability to deliver results for her clients"
"Stephen McGuinness is an excellent solicitor who provides best-in-class advice and service to his clients on complex matters, with an ability to deliver excellent outcomes"
‘Kevin Dunne is excellent. Kevin is an excellent advocate and always acts in his clients’ best interests and really does care about them. Kevin clearly has immense passion for the work he does.’
‘Stephen McGuinness has outstanding insight, superb manner. Martha Wilson is excellent, calm, capable.’
‘Katy Meade, no stone is left unturned in the investigation of claims.’
‘Stand out individuals include Mary Hough, Stephen McGuinness, Martha Wilson, Louise O Rourke.’
‘Martha Wilson, Louise O’Rourke and Mary Hough are really excellent solicitors. They are very thorough and experienced.’