Conference Chairperson & Opening Remarks

Mary Kirwan, Barrister & Lecturer at RCSI

Maternity & Obstetric Claims: High-Stakes Litigation Update

Speaker: Johan Verbruggen, Partner, Fieldfisher

• Case study: The Tariq €1.9 million settlement - lessons learned
• Catastrophic birth injuries: still 50% of SCA payments
• Post-partum haemorrhage and emergency response claims
• Latest developments in cerebral palsy litigation

Nervous Shock After Germaine v Day: The Evolving Doctrine

Speaker: Katie Nugent, Senior Associate, Hayes Solicitors

• Recent High Court decision limiting nervous shock recovery in delayed cancer diagnosis
• Practical implications for family member claims
• Strategic pleading considerations post-Germaine
• When can nervous shock claims still succeed?

Case Law Update: 2025's Key Decisions and Their Impact

Speaker: David Boughton, BL, The Law Library

• Recent High Court and Supreme Court decisions
• Emerging trends in judicial approaches
• Practical implications for current and future cases
• Looking ahead: cases to watch in the coming year

Consent in 2025: Digital Age Challenges and Practical Solutions

Speaker: Aoife Nolan, BL, The Law Library

• Patient recording of consultations: legal and practical responses
• Verbal consent documentation and evidential challenges
• 16–18-year-old consent: navigating the "young adult" category
• Emergency consent exceptions in practice

The Clinical Negligence List: Early Outcomes and Practice Changes

Speaker: Kevin O’Keeffe, Associate Solicitor, Medical Negligence, Michael Boylan Litigation

• Implementation of the dedicated High Court Clinical Negligence List
• Early case management outcomes and efficiency measures
• Cost reduction initiatives and their impact
• Practical tips for navigating the new system

Discovery in the Digital Era: Privilege, Privacy and Practical Issues

• Therapy records privilege: current state of the law
• Electronic health records and discovery obligations
• Social media and digital evidence in medical negligence
• Balancing patient privacy with litigation requirements

Vicarious Liability Developments: NCHDs, Insurance and Enterprise Liability

• Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor (NCHD) separate insurance policies: implications for hospital liability
• Enterprise liability evolution in Irish law
• Private hospital consultant arrangements
• Practical defences and emerging themes

Expert Evidence Standards: Post-Morrissey Best Practices

• Current standards for medical expert evidence
• Avoiding common pitfalls in expert reports
• Cross-examination preparation for medical experts
• Recent court criticisms and how to address them

CHI Scandals: Mass Medical Negligence and Institutional Accountability

• Unauthorised spinal implants and unnecessary hip surgeries: the facts
• Institutional disclosure obligations under Children First Act 2015
• Regulatory failures and legal consequences
• Lessons for healthcare governance and risk management