News
Head of Family Law a ‘Best Lawyer’
Congratulations to Joyti Henchie, our Head of Family Law, for inclusion in the 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom.
A tragic stillbirth that could have been avoided
Every year, more than 3,500 mothers experience a stillbirth, a terrible tragedy for any family to bear. But discovering that the loss of their child was avoidable makes it even more heartbreaking for parents and their loved ones. In this sad case, we were instructed in a clinical negligence claim arising from the stillbirth of our client’s son in September 2017. Unfortunately, the stillbirth occurred in June 2014, and as there is a statutory limit of three years to start a compensation claim for stillbirth negligence, on the face of it the time limit had expired.
£14.4m settlement for girl left with cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal development of the brain or damage to the developing brain at birth, affecting a child’s ability to control his or her muscles.
Help make medicines safer in children and during pregnancy
Under its Yellow Card Scheme, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) wants to encourage wider reporting of the side effects experienced by patients taking medicines.
Paediatric patients lose sleep in noisy wards
Sick children lose more than an hour’s sleep per night on noisy hospital wards, according to new UK research, which suggests it could harm their recovery. It has been found that when children lose sleep in hospital, their pain threshold is lower, they are more emotional and may have lowered immune defences.
Melatonin use in children who can’t sleep prompts safety warning
Children and young people in England are being given the hormone Melatonin to help them sleep, prompting concern that there is little evidence of its long-term effectiveness or safety. Melatonin, which is produced naturally by the body, has been authorised for use by people aged over 55. It has been hailed as a less addictive alternative to insomnia drug treatments.
Marked rise in type 2 diabetes in young people
Type 2 diabetes can lead to a range of health problems such as heart disease, strokes and kidney problems. The condition occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. It can be linked to obesity.
Genome sequencing promises new era in oncology
All children with cancer in England will be offered whole genome sequencing from this year in a move that will enable a more comprehensive and precise diagnosis and access to more personalised treatments.
Clinical trials for medical cannabis for children
Talks are underway about setting up clinical trials into medicinal cannabis. The move towards trials of the medication means that leading medical experts in the UK will examine a large number of plant-based medicines, so they can gather evidence to show which medicinal cannabis products react well with various types of epilepsy and seizures.
Global measles resurging, WHO warns
Measles is a highly contagious disease that in severe cases can lead to complications such as blindness, pneumonia and infection and swelling of the brain. There has been a worldwide resurgence of measles, with many countries experiencing “severe and protracted” outbreaks, last year, a report warns.
