Juliet Stevens

Clinical Negligence

‘Juliet is excellent at navigating complex medical and legal issues. She is insightful and thorough and provides clear, no-nonsense advice to her clients.’  Leading Junior, Clinical Negligence, Legal 500 2023.

Juliet has a broad clinical negligence practice. She is instructed by claimants, the NHSR, medical defence organisations, insurers of private medical institutions and insurers of allied health professionals. She is currently instructed as sole counsel for matters proceeding in the High Court, as well as those in the County Court. Juliet regularly acts on behalf of clients at RTMs and mediations, and she accepts instructions on a CFA basis.

Juliet is skilled at analysing medical records, confident when discussing clinical conduct with experts and benefits from personal knowledge of the realities of working in hospitals and primary care. Further, having conducted medical research both in the UK and abroad, she is adept at critical analysis of scientific and epidemiological studies.

Selected Cases

Juliet has a particular interest in Obstetric and Gynaecological cases. Recent instructions have concerned:

• Third and fourth degree perineal tears
• Obstetric fistulae
• Intrauterine and intrapartum deaths
• Delayed diagnosis of cervical stenosis after treatment for early cervical cancer
• Postnatal Streptococcal infections
• Bowel injury after laparoscopic fertility surgery leading to laparotomy and a bowel stoma
• Alleged failures to obtain adequate consent for instrumental delivery and/or Caesarean Section.

Other recent instructions have concerned:

• Secondary victim and Fatal Accident Act claims
• Delayed A&E investigation of evolving cauda equina syndrome
• Delayed diagnosis of laryngeal cancer
• Peripheral nerve dysfunction after spinal discectomy surgery
• Treatment of androgen insensitivity syndrome
• Antibiotic prophylaxis during bone marrow transplantation
• Failed ileoanal pouch formation surgery
• Delayed diagnosis of prostate cancer after missed PSA follow up in primary care
• Prosthesis infections after orthopaedic surgery
• Somatoform disorders including functional epilepsy
• Administration of a vaccine in primary care leading to anaphylaxis
• Delayed diagnosis of retinal detachment leading to loss of sight in one eye
• Fatal Accident Act claims after premature release of individuals under mental health section
• Delayed diagnosis of biliary atresia in a neonate precipitating early liver transplantation
• Alleged delayed diagnosis of a TB in an individual serving time in prison.

Juliet also acts on behalf of allied health professionals. By way of example, she has acted on behalf of a physiotherapist alleged to have induced a stroke, for a hypnotherapist in relation to a claim arising from treatment for tinnitus and for a psychotherapist whose conduct was impugned during family law proceedings.

Juliet remains registered as a doctor with the General Medical Council, and is a member of the Professional Negligence Bar Association. She has given seminars on topics including non-delegable duties in healthcare and consent during labour.

Awards

• Queen Mother’s Scholarship, Middle Temple, 2015
• Prize winner, Marion Simmons QC Essay Competition, Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers, 2015
• Astbury Scholarship, Middle Temple, 2014
• Highest ranked novice debating pair (team and individual speaker scores) at the Inner Temple IV Moot, 2014
• Excellence in Leadership Award, London Medical Deanery, 2011
• Proxime accessit, Final Medical Examinations, University of Oxford, 2010
• Undergraduate Academic Scholarship, Hertford College, University of Oxford, 2005-07

News

• 25 for 25: The Pro Bono Challenge
• Juliet Stevens represents family at a three-day inquest: Regulation 28 Reports made and doctor referred to GMC

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Articles

• The cost of commercial surrogacy abroad is a recoverable head of loss: Whittington Hospital NHS Trust v XX [2020] UKSC 14
• Appealing findings made by the TCC: guidance from the Court of Appeal

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Qualifications

• BPTC, City University (2016)
• GDL (Distinction), City University (2015)
• Part 1 Membership Examination, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2011)
• Medicine BM BCh (Distinction), University of Oxford (2010)
• Medical Sciences MA (First Class), University of Oxford (2007)

Memberships

• PNBA
• PIBA
• LCLCBA