Professional Discipline and Clinical Defence
Based in our offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, our solicitors provide specialist advice and representation to a wide range of professionals.
This work includes advice and representation in employment and disciplinary matters, referrals to regulatory bodies, claims for damages in the Court of Session and Sheriff Courts, Fatal Accident Inquiries and Public Inquiries.
We have particular expertise in representing doctors, nurses, dentists and other healthcare professional such as chiropractors, opticians and pharmacists. Our team is ranked Band 1 by Chambers UK for clinical negligence work. We are instructed by all major UK Medical Defence Organisations and we also act for individuals on a private basis. We are experienced in representing the medical and dental professions in claims for damages, referrals to regulators including the General Medical Council and General Dental Council, disciplinary matters, and NHS Tribunals.
Our team is headed by Laura Donald, who has considerable expertise in this field.
Contact: Laura Donald, Partner ljd@bto.co.uk T: 0131 222 2939
Experience
- Acting for all major UK Medical Defence Organisations
Also act for individuals on a private basis.
- Representing individual clinicians
Representing individual clinicians including: surgeons, physicians, radiologists, anaesthetists paediatricians and GPs before their regulatory body the GMC.
We represent such clinicians in all aspects of the regulatory and disciplinary process from initial complaint to resolution of the matter.
- Appealing decisions of regulatory bodies
Appealing decisions of regulatory bodies to the relevant supreme courts.
- Representing medical professionals in disputes with their employers
Representing medical professionals in disputes with their employers arising from health, conduct or performance issues.
- Advising consultants and health board staff
Providing advice and representation to consultants and health board staff in disciplinary investigations by their employers.
- Fatal Accident Inquiries
Representing medical professionals including doctors, nurses and dentists in numerous complex Fatal Accident Inquiries across Scotland.
Representing the interests of clinicians and nurses working within the prison system at Fatal Accident Inquiries.
- Representing Dentists
Before their regulatory body the GDC.
Assisting dentists dealing with queries and investigations arising from the Practitioner Services Division of the NHS.
- Chiropractors and pharmacists
Representing other healthcare professionals such as chiropractors and pharmacists before their respective disciplinary bodies.
- High profile Public Inquiries
Representing individual medical professionals at complex and high profile Public Inquiries, both in Scotland and in other jurisdictions.
- NHS
Representing NHS employees and NHS contractors before NHS Tribunals
- Court of Session and Sheriff courts
Representing medical professionals in negligence claims in both the Court of Session and Sheriff courts - wide experience of high value, complex claims including fatal claims, wrongful birth actions, brain injury, laser eye surgery and dental cases.
- Social media - protecting reputations
Protecting the reputation of medical professionals on social media and in other media including obtaining interdicts and non harassment orders as appropriate.
