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Katie Gollop

CALLED TO THE BAR 1993

Junior Counsel


Clinical Negligence & Healthcare Profile

Background

 

Education

 

Gray's Inn

Prince of Wales Scholar

St John's College, Oxford (BA First Class)

 

email: kgollop@3serjeantsinn.com



General Information

 

Katie is best known for her clinical negligence and professional discipline work.

 

Other healthcare work (not including inquests) includes her representing Dr Shipman's practice nurse at the long running Shipman enquiry, representing a Primary Care Trust at the appeal of their decision to remove a Doctor from the list and judicial review of a hospital's decision to suspend a Doctor who was being investigated by the GMC.

 

In addition, Katie practises in the fields of personal injury and employment.

 

Her wealth of experience in cross examining medical experts at trial and advising on medical evidence (including drafting Part 35 questions and agendas for experts' discussions) is of particular assistance in stress at work/bullying cases and employment claims involving disability and/or those where a personal injury claim is anticipated.



Directory Comments

 

Katie is recommended in Clinical Negligence & Healthcare by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500.

She is recommended in Professional Discipline by Chambers & Partners.

 

'Katharine Gollop is instructed in clinical negligence cases by both claimants and defendants, and is commended for being a highly committed and client-friendly practitioner. Clients appreciate her dedication and clarity of thought, saying she is "really good at focusing on the key issues and not getting distracted.".... Chambers and Partners 2011

 

'Katharine Gollop has a regulatory practice that is an extension of her clinical negligence work.  She proves impressive in her defence of healthcare professionals.'.... Chambers and Partners 2011

 

"...is 'extremely bright', 'a real fighter', and 'comfortable with or without a leader'..." Legal 500 2010

 

"A disquieting opponent, she is described by solicitors as a "dogged fighter who will fight to the end when she is on your side".  Chambers UK 2010

 

Katie "can be charming and deadly - she is very clever and wrong foots her opponent" Legal 500 2009

 

"...has an excellent reputation and proves 'a real terrier in a courtroom setting" Chambers UK 2009

 

"..a fierce advocate who really fights for her clients" Chambers UK 2008

 

"..has a robust no nonsense approach to litigation" and "impresses with sound practical advice" Chambers UK 2007

 

"..an astonishing talent" Legal 500 2006

 

"..has significant clinical negligence tribunal experience representing healthcare professionals" Legal 500 2005



Nature of Practice

 

Clinical Negligence

 

Acting for both claimants and defendants, Katie is regularly and frequently instructed by many of the major firms working in this specialist area including Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, Beachcroft, Berrymans Lace Mawer, Bevan Brittan, Blake Lapthorn, Brachers, Eastwoods, Hempsons, Irwin Mitchell, Kingsley Napley, Nabarro, Radcliffes LeBrasseur and Ryan.  She is also regularly instructed by the Medical Defence Union's and Medical Protections Society's in house lawyers.

 

She has particular expertise in:

  • Cauda equina cases
  • Limitation
  • Unwanted pregnancies and still births and resultant psychiatric damage claims on behalf of both parents
  • Fatal accidents act claims
  • Cosmetic surgery cases including many breast cases, abdominoplasties and operations to the nose, face and penis
  • Obstetric injuries: including damage to the baby ranging from hypoxic injuries to Erb's palsy and injuries to the mother including 3rd and 4th degree tears
  • Eye injuries involving advice and treatment given by both consultant opthalmologists arising out of conventional and laser surgery and advice given by opticians
  • Consent
  • Medical inquests

 

Personal Injury

 

Acting predominantly for claimants, Katie has broad experience including accidents at work and road traffic accidents involving serious spinal injuries and death.

In addition, she has extensive experience of cases involving psychiatric injuries including acting on behalf of:

  • a cashier at a racetrack who suffered severe PTSD after an armed robbery at work
  • a housewife in debt who was raped by a Court bailiff
  • the mother of a small child who, whilst playing in a cemetry, was killed by a falling tombstone
  • a son who, as a result of a hospital's negligent confusion of two bodies, suffered psychiatric injury when he discovered that he had attended the funeral of a man who was not his father

In January 2010, Katie acted for the victim of a road traffic accident who suffered horrific burns covering 51% of her body.  The claim settled for £500,000

 

In relation to stress and bullying claims, Katie acts for both employers and employees and has experience of cases involving claims under the Protection from Harrassment Act 1997.

 

Professional Discipline

 

Katie regularly appears before the General Medical Council and General Dental Council.  She has experience of health as well as fitness to practice hearings and interim orders as well as full hearing panels.

 

Recent cases include:

 

Krupa - advising a dentist against whom charges had been brought by the GDC.  These were effectively clinical negligence charges that were alleged to amount to misconduct.  Katies' advice and representation contributed to a favourable result and a minimal penalty.

Favier - (an ongoing case). Advising and representing at hearings, a Consultant Anaesthestist on various charges relating to clinical decisions and the interface between NHS and private practice.

Katsikas - a review of conditions imposed on the registration of a dentist.  Katie successfully ensured that conditions that had been imposed, preventing the dentist from working as a locum, should be lifted.

Jones -  a four week fitness to practice hearing.

 



Specialist Information

 


Reported and other cases of Interest

 
  • Oakes v Neininger [2008] EWHC 548, (2008) 101 BMLR 68
  • Zarb v Odetoyinbo [2006] EWHC 2880, 2007 93 BMLR

Appeared for the GP defendants in both cases

  •  Martin v Kaisary & Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust [2005] EWHC 531 and [2005 EWCA Civ 594 (2006) PIQR P5 - a case on limitation and joinder
  • Das v Ganju CA (1999) Lloyd's Red Med 198
  • Hayes v Torlop CA 1998
  • Greenfield v Flather [2001] EWCA Civ 113 (2001) Lloyd's Rep Med 143
  • Batt v Highgate Private Hospital [2004] EWHC 707, (2005) PIQR Q1

 

 

Recent High Value Negligence Actions

 

Dalby v Chowdhury, Hamal and NHS Trust - 2009

This case settled for £1million.  Katie represented the Claimant whose neurological symptoms were misinterpreted and not attended to by ther two General Practitioners.  When eventually seen in hospital, there was a negligent delay in diagnosis and treatment.  The Claimant was left severely disabled with much reduced mobility, clawed hands, urinary incontinence and loss of sensation in large areas of her body; her life expectancy was also reduced by 5 years.

Breach of duty, causation and quantum were all disputed (save that the Trust admitted breach).

The case settled at a round table meeting at which the 3 defendants were separately represented.

 

Dowlatshahi v East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust - 2008

The infant settlement in this case was approved in December 2008.  A healthy toddler was rendered hemiplegic as a result of the Defendant's admitted negligence.  A settlement involving a lump sum payment of over £1million and lifetime periodical payments from age 19 of £57,500 was approved.  Katie advised the Claimant throughout and was led, for the purposes of the settlement negotiations and approval, by Robert Glancy QC.

 

Taylor v Vance [2007] EWHC 1602 (2007) LS Law Medical 676

Led by Neil Garnham QC, Katie assisted in the successful defence of a GP who was found competently to have advised a patient suffering from a rare muscle infection.

 

Rollason v Shur, The Priory, Morgan - 2007

Led by John Grace QC, Katie represented a consultant psychiatrist in a fatal claim brought by the widow of a barrister who had committed suicide.  The claim was settled at a round table meeting for a sum that cannot be disclosed.

 

Recent Inquests

 

Re: Heath -  2009

Mr. Heath contracted Legionnaire's disease on a cruise ship and died shortly after returning home.  Katie represented one of the GPs who advised him.

 

Re: Davies - 2009

This was a inquest into the death of a prematurely born baby in Great Ormond Street.  Katie represented the nurses involved in the baby's care.

 

Re: Angela Lee - 2009

Katie represented the family of Angela Lee who died when she took her own life by stepping into the path of a train.  At the time of her death she was suffering from the side effects of Roaccutane, a powerful drug used to treat acne which is also thought to have the potential to cause psychiatric side effects.

 

Re: Patel - 2009

Mr. Patel died in a private hospital after a dangerously high potassium level was not acted upon; Katie represented one of the hospital doctors.  During the inquest, circumstances arose such that an application had to be made that the Coroner recuse himself because of apparent bias.  During an adjournment of the inquest, Katie was led by Philip Havers QC for the purposes of considering whether an application for judicial review should be made.

 

 



Clients

 


Publications

 


Lectures and Seminars

 

" Experts' Agendas and Part 35 Questions"

"Fatal Accidents Act Claims: An Update"

"Inquests: An Update"

"Chester v Afshar: The New World of Consent"

"Mental Impairment, DDA Claims & Expert Evidence"



Related Professional Activities

 

Professional Membership

 

Member of AvMA, APIL, PIBA, ELA



Other Information