Paediatric medico-legal reports
Paediatric Expert Reports for Inquests
We provide independent paediatric expert witnesses for inquests into a child’s death, reporting on the standard of care and causation. The report is written for the coroner, and you see the expert’s CV before you instruct.
Overview
What an inquest involves
An inquest establishes who died, and how, when and where. A paediatric report helps the coroner understand whether the care the child received met a reasonable standard, and whether any failing contributed to the death. Where the state’s duty to protect life is engaged, the inquest may be a wider Article 2 inquiry, and the medical evidence carries particular weight. Where a newborn’s death is in issue, see neonatal death.
Reports we produce
The reports an inquest relies on
Reports on the standard of care and on causation, written to answer the coroner’s questions. Where a bereaved family or an interested person is represented, the report addresses the medical issues the inquest needs resolved.
Which experts report
The paediatric specialists at an inquest
A consultant in the relevant paediatric discipline: a neonatologist where a newborn’s death is in issue, a general paediatrician for most matters, or a specialist in the relevant discipline where the clinical issues call for it. We confirm the discipline and provide the CV before you instruct.
Jurisdiction and funding
Where inquests are heard, and how they are funded
Inquests are heard in England and Wales before the coroner. Scotland’s equivalent process (fatal accident inquiries) differs, and we can advise where a matter sits there. Reports are usually privately funded or, for a bereaved family, through legal aid where available. We provide a same-working-day quotation and confirm terms in writing before instruction.
From instruction to report
How an instruction proceeds
Send the instruction and the records, and we allocate a suitable expert within 48 hours and provide the CV. The standard report turnaround is two to four weeks, or one to two weeks where the hearing date is close. One named case manager stays with you throughout. For the documents we need at the outset, see how to instruct.
FAQ
Inquests: common questions
The standard of care the child received and whether any failing contributed to the death, written to the coroner’s questions.
Yes. Where the state’s duty to protect life is engaged, the report addresses the wider medical questions this raises.
Usually a neonatologist; the discipline follows the clinical issues, and we confirm it before you instruct.
Tell us the date when you enquire; urgent turnaround is one to two weeks where needed.
Instructing an expert for an inquest?
Send your case details and we will allocate a suitable expert within 48 hours, with a same-working-day quotation and the CV before you instruct.