Avant medical malpractice claims data indicates that 1 in 5 claims are primarily about diagnosis. 75% of those claims related to missed or delayed diagnosis. These events may not necessarily be as the result of an error made by the health practitioner, however, the ongoing patient care and management may become the responsibility of the medical professional. Explore the elements of a successful claim and the damages that can potentially be claimed. 

Presenters

Dimitra Dubrow, National Head of Medical Negligence, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
Dimitra Dubrow is a Principal Lawyer and head of Maurice Blackburn’s national medical negligence practice. She is a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Personal Injury Specialist and has more than 20 years’ experience in medical negligence claims. Dimitra is listed by Doyle's Guide as a pre-eminent plaintiff medical negligence lawyer in Victoria and Best Lawyers in Australia for Medical Negligence. Dimitra acts in medical negligence claims, pursuing compensation on behalf of injured patients. She has expertise in obstetric and birth trauma, failure to diagnose and treat by emergency departments, and cancer cases. She also represents families in coronial matters and acts on behalf of individuals in the Health Complaints Commissioner process. Dimitra is a member of the Law Institute’s Public Liability & Medical Negligence Committee, the Litigation Executive Committee and the AMA/LIV/VicBar Medico-Legal Standing Committee.


Claire Bassingthwaighte, Legal Team Manager, Avant Law
Claire was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2003 and the High Court of Australia in 2006. Before joining Avant in 2008, she worked in private law firms defending public and private hospitals in medical negligence claims and represented the Medical Board prosecuting practitioners. As Manager of the Professional Conduct Team, Claire now leads a group of experienced solicitors who specialise in defending practitioners in a wide range of complex health law matters including; coronial investigations and inquests, commissions of inquiry, and complaints to regulators. She has represented practitioners in the Coroners Court of Queensland, the Human Rights Commission, the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal as well as both the District and Supreme Courts. She also provides general advice as part of Avant’s Medico-legal Advisory service. Claire is the Deputy Chair of the Queensland Law Society’s Health and Disability Law Committee well as a member of the Occupational Discipline Law Committee. She is a volunteer Judicial Committee Member with community sporting organisations and a member of the Medico-Legal Society of Queensland.


Hayley Daniel, Barrister, Dever’s List
Hayley has a broad practice in insurance, administrative and common law matters, with a specialty and significant experience in health and medical law. Before coming to the Bar, Hayley spent more than a decade working for and with insurers across a range of areas, including aviation, maritime, life and disability insurance, public liability and professional indemnity. She has an extensive and intimate knowledge as to the workings of insurers and the unique challenges insurance litigation entails. She regularly provided advice as to indemnity, coverage and policy interpretation. Most recently, Hayley was a Senior Associate at Australia’s largest medical defence organisation. She had carriage of a vast range of matters, acting on behalf of doctors and health practitioners across civil claims, regulatory investigations, coronial inquests and commercial disputes. Through this work, she developed a subspeciality in plastic & reconstructive surgery matters, bariatric claims and the regulation of cosmetic medicine. Hayley regularly presents at medical Colleges and Societies to discuss the evolving health landscape. Hayley holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Monash University. Her biomedical science qualifications give her an advantage and insight into medical issues and otherwise has assisted her in honing a highly forensic, worldly approach to all her matters. In addition to her background in insurance litigation, Hayley has a particular interest in sports law, healthcare regulation an

Legal and Regulatory Issues for the Health Sector

Through May and June, these 6 webinars cover a broad range of issues designed to keep you up to date with the hottest medico-legal issues, regulatory and commercial developments you, as a senior health decision maker or legal advisor need to understand. Choose to register for all 6 or just the ones that most interest you. The webinars will cover women’s health issues, risk in patient discharge and the problems with delayed diagnosis to regulatory updates, AI in healthcare and understanding defamation.