Society Business
Ezine of the LSNI 17 Winter 2021
LAW SOCIETY OF NORTHERN IRELAND
CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE PRACTITIONERS’ GROUP
Ann McMahon Head of Practice and Procedure
The Society re-launched its Clinical Negligence Practitioners’ Group in December 2018 with just under 100 members. It now has an impressive 170 members who either practice in this area of law or have an interest in it. Although one of the aims of the group was to offer an opportunity to network this has been curtailed in terms of face-to-face meetings since the pandemic and public health restrictions were introduced in 2020. However, the CPD programme for members has gone from strength to strength year on year. Many areas of clinical practice have been covered including preparation of special loss, dental injuries, the nurse expert, abdominal injuries, annual case law updates, medical negligence in the ED and many more. The Group has continued to promote good practice and ensure that members are up to date with developments. Notably the CNPG Board completed a revision of the 2012 Protocol for Clinical Negligence Litigation which was published in September 2021. Mr Justice McAlinden and Board members delivered training on the new arrangements.
The Group is led by a Management Board which is a sub-group of the Society’s Contentious Business Committee. In advance of this year’s Annual Mini Conference, Board elections were held. Five candidates put their hats in the ring and LSNICNPG were asked to vote for two plaintiff and two defendant representatives to constitute the Board and maintain its delicate balance of competing views in this area of practice. The new Board term commences in January 2022 and the members are Patrick Mullarkey, Marysia Kelly, Roger McMillan and Mark Harvey. The positions of Chair and Vice Chair will be filled at the first Board meeting. Dates for delivery of CPD have been secured for 2022 and details will issue to LSNICNPG members. The Board will continue to engage with other stakeholders in this area of practice and plan to continue engagement with LSANI to look at ways to streamline processes.
