Category: Spinal Surgery

The cervical spine, consisting of the bones in the neck, plays a crucial role in supporting the head and protecting the spinal cord. Despite being relatively rare, cervical spine injuries are significant due to their potential severity and the need for prompt diagnosis to avoid devastating consequences.

Until recently, evidence in medicolegal cases was collected from physical sources, such as patients’ medical histories, witness statements and expert witnesses. Technological advances mean that other sources of evidence, including social media, CCTV monitoring and GPS tracking, are now available. Many personal injury cases involve insurance companies, who are likely to use these methods of […]

Not only is back pain the commonest reason for a GP consultation, it has a significant socioeconomic impact too. It has been estimated that between 60% and 80% of UK inhabitants will suffer from the condition at some point during their lifetime, and that at any one time up to one-third of adults will be […]

In the majority of medicolegal cases, the outcome is dependent on the opinions expressed in experts’ reports. Therefore, these must be based on high quality evidence, particularly in cases where the questions surrounding breach of duty, causation and the damage sustained by the claimant are complex. Furthermore, once a case has gone to court, it […]

In medicolegal cases, it is rare for the legal teams involved to have sufficient specialist knowledge to make a judgement on the medical issues raised by a case. Therefore, they rely on medical experts to provide them with advice. It is the duty of the medical expert to provide the court with an objective and […]

The amount of information required to achieve the standard required for informed consent will vary depending on the complexity of the illness, condition and treatment or procedure, as well as the risks of the treatment. The practitioner must assess the individual patient’s understanding of their illness and their intellectual capability and adjust their explanation accordingly to be sure the patient understands fully what they are consenting to.

Dr Ramos-Galvez considers unexpected complications that can occur following spinal surgery

Dr Ramos-Galvez explains how complications can develop into chronic pain after spinal surgery

We are delighted to announce that Patrick J. McKenna MBBS FRCS, Consultant Spinal Surgeon joins the team as a Medico Legal Expert Witness in Trauma and Orthopaedics. Mr McKenna is a Consultant Spinal Surgeon. He consults at The London Spine Clinic in Harley Street and at Circle Hospital in Reading, He qualified at Guy’s Hospital, London and rotated […]

In his recent article for Your Expert Witness, Dr Ivan Ramos-Galvez examines the complexities of diagnosing and treating whiplash. He explores the devastating effects whiplash can have on a claimant’s quality of life, as well as the challenges, from a litigation perspective, proving the extent of whiplash injuries. A whiplash injury can be inherently challenging […]