Physician-assisted suicide differs from euthanasia as it requires the person who wishes to die to administer themselves with an agent to terminate their life. The physician’s role in this scenario…
Every medical or clinical negligence lawyer will have encountered clients with cauda equina syndrome (CES) in their practice. It is a condition – often preventable – that requires urgent surgical…
Are you entitled to disinherit a child who chooses to have no contact with you? It is an emotive issue, and one that many people have strong views about (on…
At Catherine Henry Lawyers, we are excited to be at the coal-face of the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) across the Hunter region. On 14 March 2017,…
They are questions many people don’t want to think about…when you pass away will your body be buried or cremated? Where will your remains be placed? Perhaps you want your…
Last night’s ABC news bulletin had a story from Health Reporter, Sophie Scott, concerning her investigation, into the link between the prescription of the new type of blood thinning medications…
Yes, it’s important to have both an enduring power of attorney and an enduring guardian in place. Both of these important legal documents are normally created as part of your…
Don’t be fooled into thinking your will is something you can do once, then “set and forget”. Your will is an important document for your family’s future. Circumstances change and…
Financial abuse can have a devastating effect on an elderly person, impacting their living arrangements, their ability to pay bills and possibly even their health. Worryingly, the statistics show perpetrators…
Death is not always sudden. Most of us will die slowly, not always peacefully, in an uneven series of ups and downs until it’s over. Most people accept the inevitability…
Last year in the United Kingdom a landmark judgment was handed down by the UK Supreme Court going to the heart of the surgeon/patient relationship and the consent process. The…
Catherine Henry Lawyers has been, and continues to be involved in, a number of cases involving the loss of babies through miscarriage, stillbirth, or postnatal issues. 15 October is International…
If you are over 65 it is likely that you don’t have a Facebook account, unless you have young grandchildren to show you how it all works. Many older Australians…
We read with interest the story of Amy Dawes published in the Sydney Morning Herald who suffered injuries following a forceps delivery of her first child. Following a long labour, Ms…
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, the most common cause of dementia, can wreak havoc on even the best financial planning for retirement. Alzheimer’s is incurable, and about 5.4 million people in the…
Here are just a few of our do’s and don'ts for recently separated clients: DO Consider relationship counselling Family lawyers are not here to advocate for divorce, or separation. We…
Keen joggers love getting out to have a run, even in high summer when they inevitably lose gallons of fluid in perspiration, and their face is the colour of beetroot!…
It is National Carers' Week from 16 October to 23 October, a time to pay tribute to the many thousands of carers who provide unpaid care and support to family…
Elective caesarians versus vaginal delivery and guidelines for home births were among the fascinating legal issues covered at the Obstetrics Malpractice Conference held recently in Melbourne. The annual Obstetric Malpractice…
The media is full of stories of older people being given futile and expensive treatment at the end of their lives. Some commentators say that the focus in our health…
What does ICL stand for? Independent Children’s Lawyer. Who are they? An ICL is a lawyer appointed by the Court to represent your child’s interests in your family law matter.…
Solicitors are bound by conduct rules which govern the way we practice law. One of those rules is the obligation to maintain a client’s confidentiality. A solicitor must not disclose…
Wouldn't it be wonderful if this statement was true! It is certain that many institutions are working hard on a cure, but we are not quite there. Firstly, a few…
A contravention is where you intentionally fail to comply with a Court Order or make no reasonable attempt to comply with a Court Order. There is scope for you to…
Assistance on making decisions for later life Most of our lives we are used to making decisions about financial, legal and health matters on our own or with people close…
This is the second part of our blog which deals with making decisions for later life. Part one dealt with financial decisions which you can read here. Health and lifestyle…
The Victorian government plans to overhaul the state's palliative care system within two years, to enable people to be able to die at home. A new framework for end-of-life and…
The D-word. We have no shortage of names for it, but when faced with death we are often lost for words. Our superstitions and fears about dying, and the discomfort we…
There were more than 90 proposed changes to strata laws announced by the NSW Government this week, to commence on 30 November 2016. Some big changes such as the concept…
National Palliative Care week passed quietly without too much publicity or noise. Why did this happen? Is it because we are frightened to talk about what we want when we…