Practice Summary

Prior to commencing her pupillage, Harriet worked in the Clinical Negligence team of one of the UK’s leading litigation-only law firms, where she was responsible for drafting pre-action and post-issue correspondence, including expert instruction, Letters of Notification, Letters of Claim and Particulars of Claim for high-value, complex cases of the utmost severity, including spinal and birth injuries.

Harriet has a special interest in birth injuries and claims arising from the mismanagement of pregnancy. She has particular experience in cases concerning wrongful birth following a failure to diagnose foetal disability; the delayed diagnosis of foetal distress, resulting in HIE, cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy; the mismanagement of labour resulting in foetal oxygen deprivation causing developmental delay; and brachial plexus injury following shoulder dystocia. She also deals with paediatric claims concerning extravasation injuries; the delay in diagnosis of conditions such as appendicitis and meningitis, and the mismanagement of measles and rubella.

Harriet also has experience in complex spinal injuries resulting from sub-standard surgery, delayed diagnosis of conditions such as cauda equina syndrome, and a failure to obtain informed consent or provide adequate advice about a particular type of procedure. She is also able to advise on claims for the mismanagement or delay in diagnosis of orthopaedic injuries, pressure sores, sepsis, pulmonary fibrosis, and cancer, including breast cancer, bowel cancer, cervical cancer and lung cancer. She is also able to advise on claims for negligent mental health treatment, including those where there has been a delay in diagnosis or a failure to provide access to appropriate services.

Harriet accepts instruction in all areas of dental negligence, including claims for nerve injury, loss of teeth and infection of the wound site, and misdiagnosis of periodontal disease.

Alongside Joseph Wynn, Harriet delivered the seminar “Clinical Negligence and COVID-19: the impact of the pandemic on new and existing litigation” to solicitors representing some 17 firms. To instruct Harriet on any clinical negligence matters, including those emerging in a post-COVID world, contact clerks@kbwchambers.com