Jim Duffy

Clinical Negligence

Jim is frequently instructed in complex and sensitive clinical negligence claims. He has good trial experience on both sides of the claimant/defendant divide. Jim often represents families in civil claims brought following the conclusion of an inquest, and has settled a number of claims related to developmental dysplasia of the hips.

Selected Cases

• B v Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2018): Successfully appeared at trial on behalf of the Defendant in a £1m cervical cancer claim.
• KJY v University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2023): High Court trial for the Claimant where the Defendant was found to have negligently misreported three x-ray scans of a neonate’s abdomen, each of which included views of subluxed hips.
• O’Brien v Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (2022): High Court trial relating to ototoxity induced by gentamicin administered in intensive care.
• Williams v Betsi Cadwaladr Local Health Board (2022): Acted for the Claimant, whose husband died by suicide after calling his local psychiatric unit earlier the same day seeking help. Six-day High Court trial.
• ABC v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust (2017): Acted as junior counsel to Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC and Henry Witcomb KC in an important Court of Appeal case: did a hospital trust owe a duty to a family member to inform her of her father’s serious – and hereditary – mental health diagnosis?
• B (2020): Successfully defended a GP surgery at the trial of a wrongful life claim.
• XW v University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust (2021): Settlement of a fatal accidents claim relating to a patient who took his own life in a hospital ward after developing delirium.
• Daley v Dr H and Dr H (2021): Acted for both Defendants in claim relating to delayed diagnosis of cancer.
• JC (2020): Represented Claimant seeking damages for negligent delay in treatment leading to an amputation.
• PG (2020): Acted for a young teacher who sustained significant visual loss following a violent assault by a psychiatric inpatient.