Defence from the MDU

Sarah has been a full-time medico-legal adviser since 2013, and has wide experience of supporting healthcare companies in dealing with complaints, inquests and general medico-legal queries.

A GP partner and trainer before joining the MDU, she is a team leader in the advisory department, where she also draws on experience gathered from sitting as an MPTS fitness to practise panellist, including chairing the panels.

Oliver is part of a specialist advisory team that assists members with disciplinary investigations and has an interest in doctors’ wellbeing.

Before joining the MDU in 2013 Oliver was a consultant psychiatrist in a crisis resolution team. He provides regular talks and courses to members on medico-legal issues, conflict resolution and unconscious bias.

John is a medico-legal adviser and risk advisory partner. John has been with the MDU for the past 10 years, having previously worked as a GP.

He has wide experience as a senior medical claims handler helping MDU members defend clinical negligence claims.

Kathryn has been a medico-legal adviser with the MDU since 2007. She is a team leader and trainer in the medical advisory department.

Before joining the MDU, she worked in paediatrics, gaining her MRCPCH in 2002, and holds a CCT in clinical genetics. Kathryn also holds an MA in Healthcare Ethics and Law, a Bachelor of Law and a Professional Doctorate in Medical Ethics. She is also a fellow of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine and has previously been an examiner and deputy chief examiner for the faculty.

Kathryn is currently a member of the faculty’s training and education subcommittee and a member of the Royal College of Pathologists (medical examiner).

Jerard has been with the MDU for over 10 years, and now works as a risk advisory partner.

Prior to joining the MDU, he was a consultant neurosurgeon balancing a busy NHS practice with private sector work. He is currently the educational lead for the MDU and head of Scottish affairs.

Ed has been a medico-legal adviser at the MDU since 2013, and now works as a risk advisory partner. In addition to providing advice and assistance to members. Ed has worked as a clinical risk manager in the underwriting department and as a member of the medical education team.

After qualifying from Queen’s University Belfast in 1995, and as a GP in 2000, he worked as a partner in general practice for around 12 years before joining the MDU.  

With an interest in clinical governance, Ed sat on a regional research ethics committee, completed a master’s degree in medical law in 2011 and became a Fellow of the RCGP in 2015.

Ed also writes articles for the MDU and other publications as well as running courses and webinars.

Leo is a risk advisory partner specialising in supporting dental practices in dealing with complaints and regulatory matters, as well as general dento-legal queries.

Having qualified from University College Hospital London in 1989, he has worked extensively in the Community Dental Service as well as in general dental practice. Leo also gained an MSc in Periodontology from the Eastman in 1995 and is on the GDC specialist register for Periodontics.

Leo worked part time as a clinical tutor at the School for Professionals Complementary to Dentistry in Portsmouth and started working part time for the DDU in 2005. He has been with the DDU full time since 2009 and became deputy head of the DDU in 2016.

Sarah is a risk advisory partner and has been working at the DDU as a dento-legal adviser since 2015, initially combining this work with general practice.

She qualified from Guy's Hospital Dental School in 1992, working there as a house officer before entering general practice as a vocational trainee.

Sarah subsequently worked in independent and private general practice for 25 years and completed an MSc in Aesthetic Dentistry at King’s.