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Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Hearings

England & Wales

04 Nov 2019 [2019] EWHC 2893 (QB), QBD (Master Cook)

04 Jun 2020 [2020] EWHC 1415 (QB), QBD (Chamberlain J)

13 Jan 2022 [2022] EWCA Civ 12; [2023] QB 149; [2022] 2 WLR 917; [2023] 1 All ER 140; [2022] WLR(D) 47; The Times, March 21, 2022, CA (Sir Geoffrey Vos MR, Underhill, Nicola Davies LJJ)

11 Jan 2024 [2024] UKSC 1; [2025] AC 459; [2024] 2 WLR 417; [2024] 2 All ER 681; [2024] WLR(D) 34, SC(E) (Lord Briggs, Lord Sales, Lord Leggatt, Lord Burrows, Lady Rose, Lord Richards JJSC, Lord Carloway)

Additional names

Purchase v Ahmed

Polmear v Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

Subject Matter

NEGLIGENCE — Psychiatric injury — Legal proximity — Defendant failing to diagnose primary victim’s life-threatening condition — Secondary victim suffering psychiatric injury after witnessing primary victim’s death from life-threatening condition or its immediate aftermath — Whether legal proximity between defendant and secondary victim

[2022] EWCA Civ 12; [2023] QB 149; [2022] 2 WLR 917; [2023] 1 All ER 140; [2022] WLR(D) 47; The Times, March 21, 2022, CA

NEGLIGENCE — Psychiatric injury — Legal proximity — Defendant medical practitioner failing to diagnose primary victim’s life-threatening condition — Close family member suffering psychiatric injury after witnessing primary victim’s subsequent death from condition — Whether legal proximity between defendant and family member so as to give rise to duty of care — Whether analogy with psychiatric injury caused by witnessing death or injury in accident

[2024] UKSC 1; [2025] AC 459; [2024] 2 WLR 417; [2024] 2 All ER 681; [2024] WLR(D) 34, SC(E)

Appellate History

Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust [2020] EWHC 1415 (QB), QBD

Decision of Chamberlain J reversed

Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust [2022] EWCA Civ 12; [2023] QB 149; [2022] 2 WLR 917; [2023] 1 All ER 140; [2022] WLR(D) 47; The Times, March 21, 2022, CA

Decision of the Court of Appeal affirmed on partly different grounds

Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust [2024] UKSC 1; [2025] AC 459; [2024] 2 WLR 417; [2024] 2 All ER 681; [2024] WLR(D) 34, SC(E)

Commentary

UK Human Rights Blog
Supreme Court invited to consider secondary victim claims Case comment

Mental Capacity Law and Practice
We all die: what are doctors’ duties to shield families from the sight of death? Case comment

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