Dominic Ruck Keene

Inquests

Dominic represents the entire spectrum of families, organisations/institutions, GPs, and healthcare providers at inquests. He has appeared in more than 75 inquests to date. Building on his personal injury practice, he has a particular expertise in inquests involving assessment and management of risk/health and safety issues, as well as multi agency involvement. He is also a specialist in inquests involving mental health issues and/or detained individuals, and regularly appears at Article 2 and jury inquests into prison deaths as well as those concerning formally and informally admitted mental health patients, as well those being treated in the community. Many of his inquests (and connected civil claims) involve decisions pushing the boundaries of Article 2 engagement and/or tortious responsibility.

Selected Cases

• Inquest into the death of AP:  Appeared for swim course operators and emergency medical care providers at inquest following death at triathlon involving issues around appropriate course/safety plan design as well as medical plan and treatment given.
• Inquest into death of A : Appeared for Air Ambulance Service at inquest into resuscitative hysterotomy.
• Inquests into death of X, Y and Z: Appeared for Air Ambulance Service at three separate inquests into deaths following fatal stabbings.
• Inquest into the death of NY: Appeared for NHS Trust at the inquest into the death while AWOL of an informally admitted mental health patient.
• Inquest into the death of TM: Appeared for the MOD at the inquest into the suicide of a serving soldier while on leave from mental health care.
• Inquest into the death of DS: Appeared for the family at the inquest into the murder of detained inpatient at the hands of another patient.
• Inquest into the death of OA: Appeared for NHS trusts at the inquest into the suicide of former Eritrean refugee.
• Inquest into the death of RH: Appeared for the family in inquest into the death of a 33 year old man with Down’s Syndrome and mental health issues who was living in supported housing and died from constipation.
• Inquest into the death of PB: Appeared for the MOJ at the inquest into the suicide of a prisoner where issues of suicide risk management, communication between agencies, and delayed emergency response due to failure in communication with ambulance service
• Inquest into the death of JB: Appeared for NHS Trust at the inquest into the death of patient in a mental health hospital.
• Inquest into the death of SG: Appeared for NHS Trust at the inquest into the death of patient from accidental overmedications.
• Inquest into the death of HL: Appeared for family at inquest into the suicide of detained mental health patient while on s.17 leave.
• Inquest into the death of BT: Appeared for family in inquest into death of a cancer patient who died having been discharged prematurely.
• Inquest into the death of DC: Appeared for NHS Trust in inquest into death of mental health patient who died while being treated in the community and living in supported accommodation from an overdose of legal highs.
• Inquest into the death of PH: Appears for NHS Trusts in inquest into death of prisoner who died from skin cancer with lost to follow up, 4 expert disciplines called.
• Inquest into the death of GS: Appeared for family in inquest into death of elderly patient where issues over whether should have been discharged earlier and avoided terminal decline while admitted.
• Inquest into the death of GJ: Appeared for family in inquest into death of informal admitted mental health patient who hung himself while in hospital.
• Inquest into the death of DS: Appeared for family in inquest into the death of a patient who aspirated vomit while in intensive care and suffered cardiac arrest.
• Inquest into the death of SA-C: Appeared for hospital in inquest into suicide of someone previously under care of mental health services.
• Inquest into the death of HH: Appeared for hospital in inquest into death of informal admitted mental health patient who hung himself while on leave from hospital.