Health law

Coronials

Through our two Advocacy teams – Mackenzie-Parslow Chambers and Galligan Chambers – Crown Law provides advice and representation to government agencies and departments in relation to all stages of the coronial inquiry process. Lawyers in these Chambers assist clients in the preparation of statements and material to be provided to the State Coroner, appear at the pre-inquest conference, correspond with the Coroner’s Office to obtain copies of all relevant material, prepare witnesses for giving evidence before the Coroner and represent the interests of the client at the coronial inquest.

Mental health matters

Lawyers from Crown Law Advocacy Galligan Chambers represent the Attorney-General in Mental Health Review Tribunal and Mental Health Court proceedings in relation to forensic orders under the Mental Health Act 2000 and lawyers from Advocacy Mackenzie-Parslow Chambers appear in the Mental Health Court for the Director of Forensic Disability.

Medical negligence and personal injury litigation

Health law, and in particular medical negligence, is a niche and complex area of law where expertise within the health field is required.

Crown Law’s medical negligence and health-related personal injury claims are managed by an experienced team led by Assistant Crown Solicitor Lara Rega. Given the team’s experience in the health law field, they have developed networks of various medical specialists from whom they can gain assistance when required and can discuss issues such as liability, causation and quantum. Many of the members of the team are also members of the Queensland Medico Legal Society and attend regular medico-legal events and seminars to ensure they remain up to date with current medico-legal affairs.

Lara Rega’s Government Insurance and Risk Team, is experienced in working under a legislative regime comprising:

  • Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002 (Qld)
  • Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld)
  • Health Ombudsman Act 2013 (Qld)
  • Health and Hospitals Network Act 2001 (Qld)
  • Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld)
  • Civil Liability Regulations 2003 (Qld).

Lara and her team provide legal advice and representation to the Queensland Government Insurance Fund (QGIF) and the various Hospital and Health Services and the Queensland Ambulance Service in matters such as:

  • personal injury claims commenced against various Health Services and the Queensland Ambulance Service under the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002 (Qld) relating to incidents of medical negligence arising from operative procedures, childbirth, failures to diagnose and treat patients in a timely manner
  • claims for dependency arising out of medical negligence incidents
  • representing Health Services and the Queensland Ambulance Service at mediations, settlement conferences and litigation commenced under the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld)
  • drafting submissions on behalf of Health Services and representing Health Services at conciliations arising from complaints made to the Office of the Health Ombudsman under the Health Ombudsman Act 2013 (Qld)
  • representing Health Services in matters involving contractual indemnities and multiple respondents, including multiple State respondents
  • liaising with various medical specialists in relation to issues of liability, causation and quantum.
Medical negligence and personal injury litigation
  • Defending the Queensland Ambulance Service in the matter of Hegarty v Queensland Ambulance Service (2008) HCA Trans 121 which progressed to the High Court of Australia and set precedent making law in relation to stress claims brought by emergency services workers.
  • Representing the State in complex and sensitive medical negligence matters resulting in catastrophic injuries and deemed significant litigation, that receive large amounts of media attention.
  • Defending applications seeking disclosure of file notes taken during conferences involving medical witnesses such as Algar v State of Queensland [2011] QSC 200.