Jim Duffy

Clinical Negligence

Jim is frequently instructed in complex and sensitive clinical negligence claims, on both sides of the claimant/defendant divide.  He often represents families in civil claims brought following the conclusion of an inquest, and has significant experience of joint settlement negotiations.

Selected Cases

• KJY v University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2023): 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): Acted for the Claimant in a 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 committed 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 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.
• B v Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2018): Successfully appeared at trial on behalf of the Defendant in a £1m cervical cancer claim.
• SM v A health trust (2022): Representing claimant in vaginal mesh claim. She alleges that she suffered a serious auto-immune response.
• 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.
• HH (2020): Acted for Claimant following a violent assault by another psychiatric inpatient.