Clinical negligence expert witnesses
Listed clinical negligence expert witnesses examine the clinical question identified in the instruction: treatment, diagnosis, communication, records or outcome. The relevant discipline follows the care criticised, rather than the claim label alone.
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The evidence
What a clinical negligence expert witness is asked to determine
A useful opinion identifies the contemporaneous information, the clinical decisions made and the point at which causation becomes a separate question. The register lists practitioners by discipline; scope, availability and terms are agreed directly with the practitioner.
- Whether the assessment, diagnosis, treatment or escalation recorded met the expected clinical standard at the relevant date.
- Whether a competent practitioner would have acted differently on the symptoms, test results and history then available.
- Whether any identified departure caused a different outcome, and the limits of that conclusion.
- Whether nursing, surgical, radiological, primary-care or laboratory evidence is required in addition to a lead opinion.
- Whether the records are sufficient for an opinion or require a records-review report before examination evidence.
Practitioners are listed by discipline and can be narrowed by location across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The register publishes the listing; the instruction is agreed directly with the practitioner.
Related evidence
Where this specialist evidence fits
The appropriate route follows the clinical question. These related specialties may answer different parts of the same instruction.
Medical negligence
A related register route where the question concerns the clinical care criticised.
View specialty →02Radiology
Imaging evidence in delayed diagnosis and reporting disputes.
View specialty →03Pathology
Tissue, laboratory and post-mortem evidence where those records are material.
View specialty →Search the register for a clinical negligence expert witness suited to the question in issue.
See clinical negligence listingsReport routes
Reports prepared
A records review report can deal with the contemporaneous material where an examination is not required. A breach and causation report can separate the standard-of-care question from the clinical consequence alleged.
Where the instruction concerns present symptoms, function or future course, a condition and prognosis report may form a separate part of the evidence. The report pages set out the form requirements.
Clinical Negligence expert witness evidence
A clinical negligence expert witness provides an opinion within the limits of the instruction, source material and discipline-specific expertise. The records and clinical question determine the scope of the evidence.
See the relevant GMC Good Medical Practice alongside the case material.
Directory search
Clinical Negligence listings
Clinical Negligence Expert Witness Cases & Claims
Related expert witness specialties
Questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Will a Clinical Negligence expert witness respond to Part 35 questions?
Yes - CPR 35.6 entitles the parties to put written questions on a report, and answering them is part of the expert's duty to the court. A Clinical Negligence report prepared for proceedings in England and Wales carries the Part 35 statement of truth, with equivalent duties applying in the other UK jurisdictions.
Can a Clinical Negligence expert act as a single joint expert?
Where the court directs a single joint expert under CPR 35.7, the instruction is agreed between the parties and put jointly - a routine basis of instruction in this field. Whether a particular practitioner accepts SJE appointments is confirmed with the practitioner at the enquiry stage.
Will the expert attend joint discussions or give evidence at trial?
Where the court directs discussions between experts under CPR 35.12, they meet and produce a joint statement of what is agreed and what is disputed; attendance at trial - in person or by video link - is likewise a matter of court direction. These commitments are confirmed with the practitioner at instruction.
Can I choose a Clinical Negligence expert of a specific gender, or one who assesses remotely?
Yes on both counts. Every listing displays the practitioner's gender, consulting locations and assessment types - face to face, remote or both - so sensitive-instruction preferences can be applied at the shortlisting stage, before any contact is made.