Expert Witness Service – Stroke Medicine
I provide independent expert witness opinions in stroke medicine, covering the full stroke pathway from hyperacute assessment to rehabilitation and long-term outcomes. My practice is grounded in current NHS stroke care, national guidelines, and contemporaneous standards applicable at the material time.
Scope of Expertise
My expert witness work includes opinions on:
- Hyperacute stroke care
- Recognition and assessment of stroke and TIA
- Use and interpretation of neuroimaging (CT/CTA/MRI)
- Decision-making around intravenous thrombolysis
- Access to and timing of mechanical thrombectomy
- Systems and pathway issues
- HASU configuration and service delivery
- Inter-hospital transfer and thrombectomy network arrangements
- Workforce, escalation, and out-of-hours care
- Clinical decision-making
- Risk–benefit analysis of acute treatments
- Management of complications
- Secondary prevention and follow-up care
- Causation and outcome analysis
- Likely impact of delays or omissions in care
- Balance of probabilities in alternative clinical scenarios
Nature of Instructions
I accept instructions in civil and medico-legal cases, including:
- Breach of duty and standard of care
- Causation and condition/prognosis
- Delay in diagnosis or treatment
- Service configuration and pathway failures
I do not act as an advocate for either party and provide opinions that are objective, evidence-based, and independent.
Standards and Methodology
- Reports are prepared in accordance with CPR Part 35 and associated Practice Directions
- Opinions are based on:
- NICE guidance
- Royal College of Physicians Stroke Guidelines
- Relevant national and international evidence applicable at the time of the incident
- I clearly distinguish fact, assumption, and opinion, and explicitly address areas of uncertainty
Communication and Court Experience
- Reports are clear, structured, and accessible to non-clinicians
- Complex stroke medicine concepts are explained in plain language
- I am experienced in joint expert discussions, preparation of statements, and giving oral evidence
- I remain measured and consistent under cross-examination
Professional Approach
- Independent and unbiased
- Meticulous attention to detail, timelines, and documentation
- Transparent about the limits of my expertise
- Reliable, timely, and responsive to instructing solicitors and the court
