Medicine
Infectious diseases expert witnesses
Listed infectious diseases expert witnesses address diagnosis of infection, antimicrobial treatment and the recognition of sepsis. Infection prevention and control questions frequently arise in the same instruction.
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The evidence
What an infectious diseases expert witness is asked to determine
Infection claims are dominated by timing. Observation charts, microbiology results, prescribing records and escalation entries show what was known at each point, and a later organism result does not establish what could have been known earlier. Where a healthcare-associated infection is alleged, surveillance and cleaning records may be as material as the clinical notes themselves.
- Whether signs of infection or sepsis were recognised against the observations recorded.
- Whether cultures and other samples were taken before antimicrobial treatment began.
- Whether antimicrobial selection, route and duration reflected the results and local guidance.
- Whether escalation, source control or specialist referral occurred within an appropriate period.
- Whether infection prevention practice is material to the acquisition alleged.
Practitioners are listed across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Location can be narrowed in the register’s location listings before an instruction is made.
Claim contexts
Claims that instruct this discipline
These links describe the question infectious diseases evidence can answer. They do not prescribe the scope of an individual instruction.
Clinical negligence claims
Recognition and treatment of infection during clinical care.
View claim type → 02Inquests
Infection evidence where the circumstances of a death are examined.
View claim type → 03Personal injury claims
Infection following injury, surgery or a procedure.
View claim type →Search the register by the discipline used in the instruction.
See infectious diseases listingsReport routes
Reports prepared
Observation charts, microbiology and prescribing records support a records review report. A breach and causation report separates recognition from consequence.
Critical care, surgical or microbiological evidence frequently accompanies an infection opinion. The report pages hold the applicable requirements.
Infectious diseases expert witness evidence
An infectious diseases expert witness follows the observation and microbiology record in sequence and states what each stage supported at the time.
The register publishes the listing only; terms are agreed with the practitioner. See guidance from UK Health Security Agency alongside the case material.
Directory search
Infectious Diseases listings
Infectious Diseases Expert Witness Cases & Claims
Related expert witness specialties
Questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Will an Infectious Diseases 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 Infectious Diseases 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 an Infectious Diseases 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 an Infectious Diseases 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.