Ben Rich

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 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.

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 HH [2020]

HH had been prescribed a high dose of opiate medication by Dr N, a trainee GP, supervised by Dr W. HH had a flag on his medical records stating that he had a record of substance abuse. He died of opioid toxicity. Ben represented both doctors and neither was subject to significant criticism.

Inquest touching on the death of EP [2020]

Ben represented a large Care Home provider who ran the Home where EP was living. She had multiple falls leading finally to a fracture which proved fatal. After the death, EP’s records were altered record that more action had been taken on the falls than in fact had been, and photographs were manipulated to suggest that injuries had been properly recorded. The manager had been sacked. The conclusions of the inquest did not criticize the company for the way it supervised the running of the Home, nor for not knowing that the neglect and falsification had occurred.