Cancer Diagnosis/Treatment & COVID-19 - What Lies Ahead?

Introduction

Clinical negligence claims dealing with cancer diagnosis and treatment are legally and often factually complex, and hugely emotive even during ‘normal’ times, both for Claimants and Defendants.

The COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world and the NHS has rightly been praised for its heroic efforts in battling the virus, but the crisis has led to unique challenges resulting in medical decisions which may have profound implications for non-COVID patients over the months and years ahead.

As predictions of the potential additional death toll from the pandemic due to cancer abound, many will query how great the anticipated wave of cancer claims in the years ahead will be, and how such cases are likely to be assessed.

This webinar will consider the potential claims that may yet arise and the complexities that they will entail.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• The UK’s historic record in cancer management and survival
• The predictions for excess deaths from cancer arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic
• COVID-19 NICE rapid guidelines for the delivery of systemic anti-cancer treatments and the Coronavirus Act 2020
• To what extent if at all, do resources matter when considering Bolam/Bolitho negligence?
• Potential categories of claims
• Delays in existing treatment plans
• Delayed or missed diagnoses/delayed screening
• Lung cancer misdiagnosed as COVID-19
• Expert evidence considerations
• A greater role for material contribution?
• Proposals for immunity for the NHS and health professionals against clinical negligence claims arising from the pandemic

This webinar was recorded on 14th September 2021