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
'Kevin Dunne is very engaged with clients and remains calm at all times.'
'The lawyers at Hayes are tremendously sophisticated litigators and very skilled at assembling large teams'
'Hayes solicitors provides prompt responses, current knowledge of case law and excellent service to clients.'
'The lawyers work well as a team and provide detailed written advice.'
'They are all very good, efficient, solid lawyers who are very hard-working.'
'In the healthcare field, Hayes is the pre-eminent firm in the country. The team has enormous experience and knowledge, with a range of solicitors, each of whom is an acknowledged expert in their area.'
'Mary Hough is perhaps the top solicitor in this field. She is calm and thoughtful, with unrivalled insight.'
'Mary demonstrates a high level of sophistication in her legal expertise, particularly in areas such as medico-legal law and coroner inquests.'
'Mary is highly experienced and it is clear that her clients value her opinion.'
'She provides very strong legal advice at all times.'
'Mary Hough sees cases as a solicitor but also from the perspective of the client. She has sound judgement.'
'Katy consistently demonstrates a deep understanding of the complex legal issues that arise in the healthcare sector, and provides expert advice and guidance.'
'She has a very strong work ethic, invests herself fully in every case and is very organised.'
'She has a great insight into the medical and legal issues involved in any case.'
'Katy Meade is really super. She's a partner who really stands out there'
'Stephen McGuinness is outstanding in understanding and presenting complex cases'.
'Louise is very dynamic, works very hard for her clients and is highly regarded among her peers.'
'Louise O'Rourke is an excellent solicitor and a pleasure to deal with. She is always very approachable.'
'Louise O'Rourke has great experience, a calm and thoughtful attitude and great problem-solving skills.'
'She's very open to having a challenging discussion around the issues to come to the best solution for the client.'
‘Hayes Solicitors is the leading firm in the defence of clinical negligence actions. The team at Hayes is very skilled and experienced and there is great in depth strength within the team.’
'When using Hayes in the defence of clinical negligence actions, you are guaranteed to get one of the firm's partners to supervise the litigation and to bring critical appraisal to the litigation tactics and strategy. This is unique and marks Hayes out from its peers.’
‘This is the best team in the country for healthcare work. The solicitors are exceptional from partner to trainee level. They are exceptionally well trained and knowledgeable. They are also exceptionally personable and practical.’
‘The team led by Mary Hough has a wealth of specialist experience in the field of medico legal work. Very clear communicators and awareness of client's needs.'
‘The clinical negligence team is experienced and well resourced. The lawyers are engaged and approachable and are always proactive in managing claims.’
‘Robbie Slattery, Stephen McGuinness, Martha Wilson, Mary Hough are exceptionally capable practitioners, superb client management, excellent interface with barristers, completely on top of the most difficult litigation.’
'Conor Morgan is excellent regarding public sector matters.’
‘The team led by Mary Hough has a wealth of specialist experience in the field of medico legal work. Very clear communicators and awareness of client's needs.'
‘Martha Wilson and Stephen McGuinness impress. Mary Hough is a very impressive leader of the team and instils the values of ethics, professionalism and efficiency in all of the work that the team produces.’
‘Katy Meade is diligent and incredibly thorough. Her attention to detail is second to none. I worked with her on a complex clinical negligence case which required careful consideration of a substantial volume of records as well as many expert reports on both sides and many guidelines/policies in place in the relevant hospital (both local and national). She was across all of it, truly impressive.’