Patient Death

I have just returned from the NMC, where after a 4 day hearing into allegations of neglect and inadequate contact, my client was cleared of all charges.  Following a coroner's conclusion that neglect and failure to contact a service user contributed to the death by suicide of the service user, my client was referred to the NMC, as the Care Coordinator responsible at the time. 

This was a classic scenario of a Trust shifting blame onto the most vulnerable member of its staff, when there were senior managers and senior clinical lead nurses who should themselves have taken responsibility for what took place.

My client came to me after the Case Examiners had decided that the case must be sent to a full hearing, after his practice had been restricted by quite onerous conditions of practice, and the case listed for a hearing in June.

I immediately applied for the hearing to be postponed so that we could properly prepare for the hearing and the postponement was granted.

We meticulously prepared the case, and after tough questioning of the Trust witnesses, I made a submission that there was no case to answer.Without even having to hear from my client, the panel agreed with my submission and dismissed the charges.I could almost see the weight coming off his shoulders.