Juliet Stevens

Inquests & Public Inquiries

Juliet is currently instructed as Junior Counsel to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

She is also 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.

Selected Cases

• 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.
• Represented a commercial entity at an inquest concerning the suicide of a woman who died after creating a ligature from ‘anti-ligature’ clothing.

https://www.inquest.org.uk/emma-pring-inquest-concludes

• 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:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-58883932 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/nightingale-hospital-deaths-inquest-nhs-b19334  16.html

• 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 over a three day inquest 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. The inquest generated significant local press coverage:

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/coroner-to-raise-concerns-after-death-of-baby-1-6739227

https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/kobi-wright-inquest-opens-jpuh-1-6733961

• 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 in relation to a multiday 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

• 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

Read more

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