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Fast-tracking medical justice is problematic. Let’s prevent tragedies in the first place.

The way justice is served to families of children damaged during birth is changing but the UK government’s proposals may cut corners and address the consequences rather than the cause.

By Suzanne White
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baby-handle-tiny-father-51966.jpeg
baby-handle-tiny-father-51966.jpeg

Baby's hand. Unknown photographer. Pixabay. No rights reserved.

On 17 October 2016 the UK Department of Health announced a new action plan for Safer Maternity Care. It aims to promote a culture of openness, reduce the number of stillbirths, neonatal deaths and birth injuries in the UK whilst ensuring that lessons are learnt from these tragic cases.

However, as a lawyer for those seriously injured in our healthcare system, I feel uncomfortable that this was launched alongside a new Rapid Redress Resolution scheme. The scheme, according to the Department of Health, will provide fast-track access to financial support without the need to start legal proceedings.

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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0