David specialises in Inquest law and regularly appears in inquests, helping parties to navigate through complex clinical and legal issues.

David frequently represents NHS Trusts, the Welsh Health Board and independent charities at Coroners' Inquests across England and Wales, as well as representing individual medical practitioners who require separate representation to their employers, perhaps due to a potential conflict of interest or simply to protect the practitioner as far as possible, (which is typically funded by organisations such as the Medical Defence Union or the Royal College of Midwives).

In addition, David also represents families who have tragically lost loved ones and who are seeking answers to their questions about the circumstances of the death.  Most of these cases will be funded privately, or through a corresponding clinical negligence claim or in exceptional cases, by legal aid.

David has a special interest in mental health and is frequently involved in inquests examining issues of mental health. In 2005, David spent 3 months on an NHS placement rotating around the Acute, Forensic and Psychiatric Intensive Care Units of an NHS mental health hospital, in order to gain a better understanding of NHS policy and procedure in practise. David also uses this experience to represent patients at Mental Health Review Tribunals.

When not in court, David provides lectures to his instructing solicitors on various aspects of Inquest law, including: Disclosure; and Article 2 Issues. David also lectures in Mental Health Law to undergraduate medical law students at the London School of Economics.

Within the last 18 months, David has been involved in a number of notable inquests, some lasting several weeks, and some involving juries.

Notable Inquests

The Inquest touching the death of Crystal Dawn Higgs:
 
In this Article 2 inquest, David represented the family of Crystal Dawn Higgs, who had been made an informal patient at the Edgware Community Hospital, following an attempt to kill herself at Brent Cross car park. The family were critical of the care provided to Crystal in that the Hospital staff allowed Crystal to escape from the Hospital grounds and return to Brent Cross car park where she subsequently killed herself. The jury found that a breakdown in communication at the Hospital enabled Crystal the opportunity to escape and therefore an opportunity to prevent her death was lost.

 
The Inquest touching the death of baby Ebony McColl:

Daily mail coverage

Telegraph coverage

Independent coverage

In this Article 2 inquest, David represented an Obstetric Registrar, who had been caring for the mother of baby Ebony McColl. Despite wide ranging criticisms of the Milton Keynes Maternity Unit, no individual criticisms were made of the Obstetric Registrar in the Coroner's narrative verdict. 

 
The Inquest touching the death of Amanda Wild:

In this inquest, David represented a charitable Trust who provided secure accommodation for vulnerable adults suffering from mental health issues, following their release from section under the Mental Health Act. No individual criticism was made of the Trust in the Coroner's narrative verdict.

 
The Inquest touching the death of Sambatha Koroma:
 
In this inquest, David represented the lead independent midwife of the Albany Midwifery practice, which had been contracted to Kings' College Hospital in London, to provide midwifery services.