Juliet Stevens

Inquests & Public Inquiries

Juliet is regularly instructed to represent families, healthcare providers and other interested parties at inquests and associated hearings. She acts both in ‘Article 2’ jury inquests, and those heard by coroner alone. She has particular expertise acting for parties in inquests where significant criticism of a healthcare practitioner or provider is expected, whether paramedic, primary care, Trust, private hospital or care home.

Juliet’s inquest practice complements her clinical negligence practice, and she accepts instructions to represent families at inquests on a CFA basis, with a view to civil proceedings.

She has previously worked as Junior Counsel to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

Selected Cases

• Represented a healthcare equipment provider at an inquest concerning a death attributed to mismanaged pressure sores.
• Represented a private psychotherapist at an inquest concerning the death of a long-standing client.
• Represented an NHS Trust at an inquest concerning the death of a woman who died of a brain haemorrhage after the administration of an anti-blood clotting drug. Extensive expert evidence was heard.
• Represented a commercial entity at an inquest concerning the suicide of a woman who died after creating a ligature from ‘anti-ligature’ clothing. Press coverage here.
• Represented an NHS Trust at two linked inquests concerning the provision of care of Covid patients at the Nightingale Hospital, London. The inquest generated significant national press coverage, including the BBC and the Independent.
• Represented a national care home provider at an inquest concerning the suicide of a resident days after he was admitted.
• Represented the family of a baby who died during labour in which, amongst other matters, the coroner’s jurisdiction was in dispute. At the conclusion of the inquest, the Senior Coroner made a Reports for the Prevention of Future Deaths against the NHS Trust and the clinician who commenced the delivery of the child. In addition, the Senior Coroner’s concerns were such that referred the key clinician to the General Medical Council. Press coverage here.
• Represented an NHS Trust at an inquest concerning the death of a patient subsequent to an anaesthetic drug error. The matter of neglect was in issue.
• Acted on behalf of an NHS Trust at an inquest which concerned the death of a child who had presented to the Trust with an undiagnosed serious underlying health condition. Represented a properly interested third party to a fatal road traffic collision, where attending healthcare professionals had performed perimortem surgery on the deceased at the scene of the accident.

Awards

News

• Victoria Woodbridge elected as the next Chair of the PNBA
• 25 for 25: The Pro Bono Challenge

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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)
• Queen Mother’s Scholarship, Middle Temple, 2015
• Astbury Scholarship, Middle Temple, 2014
• 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