Ben Rich

Ben Rich

"An incredible advocate. He is practical and persuasive, and his cross-examination skills are fantastic."

Legal 500 UK 2024
Year of call: 2010
For enquiries please call: 020 7353 5324 or email vcard cv linkedin save

Inquests & Public Inquiries

Ben has a substantial inquest practice, mainly representing medical professionals. He has represented clients in jury inquests, and in Article 2 inquests.

Notable Cases:

Inquest touching on the death of BO for Dr AO [2024]

This inquest concerned a patient with severe depression, which was resistant to a very wide range of treatments. Dr AO, his GP, prescribed a benzodiazepine which, three years earlier, a hospital specialist had suggested should not be prescribed for him again as it might have contributed to suicidality. The GP had to explain and defend his position that it was a reasonable calculated risk, given the patient’s extreme distress and the fact that this drug was the only thing which provided any relief. The asserted causation was also successfully challenged.

Inquest touching on the death of FP for Prof SR [2023]

Represented a distinguished heart surgeon where it was suggested that he had undertaken an inappropriate procedure which led to the death of an otherwise reasonably healthy patient, without getting her informed consent for it. The investigation concentrated on complex evidence concerning the risks of a particular heart valve device, and of the complication that arose and how that interacted with changing guidelines in the area.

Inquest touching on the death of SK [2019]

Ben represented an East of England Clinical Clinical Commissioning Group who were responsible for a package of care given to the deceased. Unknown to all the agencies dealing with her, she had stopped receiving any care and eventually died of sepsis. The inquest involved arguments particularly on the issue of causation, and whether there was sufficient link between the failure to ensure the care package was delivered, and the death.

Inquest touching on the death of TC [2019]

TC was murdered in an immigration detention centre. An Article 2 jury inquest was held. Ben represented a nurse who had attended on TC, who was accused of having failed competently to undertake emergency medical treatment. After detailed cross-examination of the witness who accused this nurse, the Coroner, with the support of the family, decided that no question relating to the nurse would be left to the jury.

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