Managing a child’s My Health Record in a blended family
Prior to 31 January 2019, Australians had the opportunity to decide if they wanted a My Health Record (MHR) and to opt out if they didn’t want one. If you…
The ins and outs of My Health Record
The federal government has extended the period for opting out of the new My Health Record (MHR) system to January 31, 2019. This system affects every one of us. If…
Royal Commission into Aged Care begins
The preliminary hearings for the Royal Commission into aged care commenced on 18 January 2019. There was a call for submissions regarding: The quality of aged care services being delivered;…
Waking Up From General Anaesthetic On The Operating Table | Our Client’s Story
We acted for a cosmetic surgery patient who was administered general anaesthetic during a breast augmentation and lift. The surgery was performed by a cosmetic surgeon – a general practitioner…
Review: ‘Anaesthesia’ by Kate Cole-Adams
The book by Kate Cole-Adams, ‘Anaesthesia: The Gift of Oblivion; The Mystery of Consciousness’, provides an engaging and thought-provoking look at the issues surrounding the use of modern-day anaesthetic. It…
Anaesthetic Error – Other Case Studies
Further to our own client's stories, other cases involving the misuse of anaesthesia or anaesthetic error in Australia and the UK have affected public and professional discourse surrounding anaesthesia. Grace Wong…
Complete feeling during a C-Section (Spinal Anaesthetic) | Our Client’s Story
We acted for a client who was aware during her c- section despite the administration of a spinal anaesthetic. She was to have this child – her third – by…
Mental capacity and signing wills
It is quite often that concerns are raised following the death of a person (‘testator’) that they may have lacked mental capacity when they signed their will. For a will…
My Health Record: Opt-Out Period Extended
The Senate has voted to extend the opt-out period for the ‘My Health Record’ system to 31 January 2019. This gives Australians an extra two-and-a-half months to opt-out of the system.…
Catherine Henry Lawyers recognised in list of top medical negligence lawyers
Two lawyers from a Hunter based law firm, Catherine Henry Lawyers, have made the list of NSW’s top 16 medical negligence plaintiff lawyers. The firm’s principal, Catherine Henry, and senior…
Legal avenues can help prevent neonatal deaths and stillbirths and help with loss
It is always so heartbreaking to hear stories of parents who have lost a child. As a mother, I cannot imagine the pain and loss they must feel. Newcastle couple…
Full tribunal findings on Dr Gayed released
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) published its full decision on October 9 in the case brought by the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) against Dr Gayed. The NCAT hearing…
Meningococcal death raises questions of disclosure and compensation when things go wrong in hospitals
The widely reported death of a young Central Coast university student raises questions about what rights and remedies patients and their families have when things go wrong in a hospital…
Is Australia leading the world in action on transvaginal mesh injuries?
A world leading, UK based uro-gynaecologist has said Australia is leading the way in independently determining the efficacy (or not) of transvaginal mesh. Dr Wael Agur presented a paper about…
Deaths arising out of negligence and possible compensation
If a loved-one dies as the result of someone else’s negligence, am I entitled to compensation? When someone dies due to the negligence of another, the deceased will be unable…
Birth trauma impacts go beyond women – Birth Trauma Awareness Week
This week is Birth Trauma Awareness Week where we recognise the stories of people who have experienced trauma as a result of child birth. The Week is also a time…
Diagnosis and Treatment of Melanoma: New Clinical Practice Guidelines
The Cancer Council Australian and Melanoma Institute Australia have released new guidelines regarding the prevention, diagnosis and management of melanoma. Melanoma accounts for 12% of all new cancers diagnosed in…
NSW Health Report: A Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Procedures
We currently act for several clients that have had poor outcomes following cosmetic surgery procedures carried out by relatively inexperienced surgeons touting themselves as ‘cosmetic surgeons’. There are presently no…
New National Action Plan for Endometriosis
The government has recently announced funding in the amount of $2.5 million as part of a national plan to fund research into endometriosis and to promote awareness of the condition.…
Failure to Diagnose and Treat Meningitis Caused Death for Six-Year-Old
We were saddened to read about the inquest into the death of Layla Ermenekli, a six year old girl who died hours after being sent home from an emergency department…
Personal Health Records: Third Party Sharing and Opting Out
Personal health records and data for each Australian citizen will soon be created as part of the My Health Record initiative. By the end of 2018, a record will be…
Failure to Perform Emergency C-section | Our Client’s Story
We acted for an 8 year old boy who had a mild form of cerebral palsy. When 41 weeks pregnant, our client’s mother had presented to hospital in active labour.…
Ignoring a High-Risk Pregnancy | Our Client’s Story
We represented a disabled child and her parents in a birth trauma case. Our client’s mother was 42 at the time of the pregnancy and a very small woman, weighing…
When Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word for Medical Practitioners
So many of my clients say to me that if their treating health care professional had said sorry or just apologised to them for what had gone wrong, they wouldn’t…
Advance Care Planning: Avoiding Invasive Resuscitation Procedures on very Elderly or Unwell People
WA Today’s recent article about traumatic CPR procedures being performed on very elderly nursing home residents highlights the need for good advance care planning. These CPR procedures involve breaking bones…
Catherine Henry recognised in Doyles Guide 2017 listing of recommended plaintiff medical negligence lawyers
Catherine Henry Lawyers is delighted and proud that the founder and owner of the firm, Catherine Henry, has been recognised in the Doyles Guide 2017 listing of leading law firms…
Injuries from Vaginal Birth | Our Client’s Story
We acted for a 24-year-old woman from regional NSW who sustained very severe physical and psychological injuries during the traumatic birth of her second child. In fact, our client’s injuries…
Injury from Instrumental Birth (forceps) | Our Client’s Story
We acted for a 34-year-old woman who suffered significant birth trauma injuries during the delivery of her second baby. Our client had had a very difficult delivery with her first…
Birth Trauma – The Elephant in the (Delivery) Room
Over the weekend I caught up with a friend who gave birth to her first baby a few months ago. She was telling me about the birth - how she…
Dodgy doctors are still slipping through the cracks
And the decision makers who allow them to, must be held responsible says solicitor Tom Hunter-Leahy. You just wouldn't expect that the surgeon operating on you, or perhaps a loved…