Expert Witness Features – page 30

Whiplash injuries that persist will need relevant therapy

WHIPLASH AND associated injuries are a range of mainly soft tissue injuries to the neck and back that affect a number of occupants of motor vehicles hit from the rear or from the side by other vehicles, as well as occasionally from other causes.

The symptoms from the neck injuries frequently do not develop for several hours and may not have developed until after an early visit to a doctor or an accident and emergency department.

A significant majority of those neck injuries are mild and clear away within a week or two, leaving no lasting ill effect.

When hernia operations go wrong

ONE OF THE commonest routine operations carried out in general surgery departments is the repair of hernias. Around 120,000 people present with hernias in the UK every year, so it is no surprise that a proportionate number of clinical negligence cases are brought.

During the course of last year a number of cases were reported by law firms concerning clinical errors arising in operations to repair hernias.

One of the most harrowing was reported by Swindon clinical negligence specialists S J Edney.

Dentists urged to adhere to tissue rules

ONE OF THE areas of dentistry where patient safety is potentially at risk is in the use of acellular bone or skin products – products derived from human tissue.

Since April last year all suppliers of such products must hold a licence from the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and last November the HTA reiterated that by calling on dentists and oral surgeons to ensure they are using products from licensed suppliers.

Bristol heart scandal goes on and on

IN MARCH Michelmores reported the settlement of another claim in the Bristol heart surgery scandal by South West Strategic Health Authority. The settlement figure was equivalent to a £5.5m lump sum.

The latest case concerned CD, a 24-year-old client of Michelmores partner Laurence Vick – who was joint lead solicitor to the Bristol Heart Children Action Group – and Michael Vian Clark.

Expert opthalmologist gets top business recognition

MR ARTHUR NYLANDER, a consultant ophthalmologist at East Lancashire NHS who also acts as an expert witness in the subject, has been honoured as a ‘Premiere Member’ by Emerald Who’s Who for Executives and Professionals for showing commitment, leadership and excellence in all aspects of ophthalmology.

Mr Nylander graduated from the Medical School at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria in 1980. In 1982, he moved to the UK and trained in ophthalmology. He was appointed a consultant ophthalmologist for the then-Burnley NHS Trust in November 1996. He was the Royal College Tutor in Ophthalmology for the trust from April 1990 to August 2007.