Sydney Chawatama

Inquests

Sydney has appeared regularly at inquests mainly on behalf of families and also on behalf of NHS Trusts and defence organisations representing GPs and practice managers. Has experience of enhanced and jury inquests.

Selected Cases

• Re S (2023): Represented a Health Board in an Article 2 jury inquest. The deceased was detained in hospital under s2 of the MHA 1983. Immediately upon his discharge from the section he was allowed home on leave. The next day he was found hanging in a back garden. The jury returned a narrative conclusion. March 2023.
• Re O (2023): Railway suicide of a teenager who had been suffering from an undiagnosed mental illness of a fluid and transient nature. Inquest explored whether Social and mental health services missed opportunities to review their strategies. Though there were missed opportunities, it was speculation as to whether the outcome would have been different and therefore these were not causative.
• Re B (2021): Inquest into the death of a six-year old child with seven Interested Parties focussed on whether the child had died of sepsis or a rare condition known as haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). The Coroner found that death had been caused by HUS. Represented a Paediatrician.
• Re H (2022): Death following elective ileostomy surgery. There followed an apparent bowel obstruction culminating in a cardiac arrest and multi-organ failure.
• Re C: High profile inquest into death of woman following a termination of pregnancy.
• Re S: Six day inquest into death of an elderly woman admitted to hospital from a care home with bronchopneumonia. The care home and GP were interested parties. The Assistant Coroner rejected a conclusion of unlawful killing and did not find neglect. The police had been requested to investigate but found no evidence of any offence. January 2019.
• Re AC: Nine-day inquest into the death of a woman after a late stage (22 weeks) termination of pregnancy at a private day clinic, having travelled from Ireland. Within 30 minutes of her discharge from the clinic, she collapsed and died in a taxi from massive internal bleeding leading to a cardiac arrest. Read more here. April 2018. Acted for family.
• Re B (2017): Represented family in inquest concerning the death of a 41 year old woman who died in hospital from (at the time undiagnosed) infective myocarditis, having been admitted just 3 days earlier with suspected pneumonia.
• Re SG (2016): Alleged delay in diagnosis and management of sepsis.
• Re X (2015): Acted for GP at 3 day inquest. Deceased had learning disabilities. In-quest verdict quashed by consent by High Court.
• Re F Khan (2015): Death following a third trimester miscarriage and attempt medical evacuation. Finding of gross failure made by Coroner.
• Re RC (2015): Three day inquest.
• Re Alastair Hosie (2010): Out of hours missed diagnosis of leg infection resulting in severe sepsis and death.
• Re Baby Abbie (2010): Wrongful prescription of diuretic in infant. South Yorkshire Coroner’s Court, Sheffield. 17 day inquest.
• Andrew Smith (2007): Five day inquest before a jury at Leicester Coroners Court.