Legal News (Healthcare Law)

Hayes solicitors hosted a major conference on the need for radical reform of medical negligence litigation in Ireland.

On 11 April 2014, after a 40 day hearing, Mr Justice O’Neill dismissed the case of Mr Richard O’Callaghan, who alleged he had become paralysed for two years as a result of negligence on behalf of the Defendant, Mr Frank Dowling following a complex spinal surgery in April 2005.

On 1 April 2014 the Government published a White Paper on its proposed Universal Health Insurance policy. The White Paper states that access to health services will be based on need and not ability to pay.

The High Court recently overturned a permanent stay imposed by the Circuit Court on three related medical negligence actions (1) .

The issue of lack of capacity to refuse medical treatment came before the High Court again in a recent matter where a 23 year old woman who suffered from an eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, refused nutritional feeds in hospital. An emergency application was made by the hospital seeking an order to allow her medical team feed her through a tube.

Our Healthcare Team outlines the findings of a recent review of regulation in the UK cosmetic surgery industry and the implications for the Irish system.