Justice ‘blocked’ to victims of flaws in health service

Victims of serious health service flaws are being blocked from receiving justice by a courts system that is prohibitively costly for most — and deliberately “intimidates” the few who do take cases. 

Solicitor Ernest Cantillon made the claim during a conference on medico-legal issues affecting patients and doctors, warning the current system was “constitutionally suspect”.

Speaking at the patient-organised event, Mr Cantillon said that, despite 19,459 medical accidents last year involving negligence, just 544 — or 2.7% — led to court cases. Of this 544, less than 10% received legal aid.