Child law
Wide range of advice and support for specialist Children's
Trusts and the wider NHS relating to child law issues.
It is essential that health professionals are properly advised
in respect of their legal obligations to children. With the
overriding need to put children first, it is vital to ensure that
correct decisions are made, particularly in sharing confidential
information with other agencies. At the same time, employers need
to be adequately protected and prepared to ensure that legal
problems are avoided wherever possible.
Weightmans' Child Law team includes experts with practical
knowledge of both the general common law relating to children and,
in particular, the Children Act 1989 and 2004. We have considerable
experience in dealing with the various issues involved, and an
in-depth understanding of the legal complexities and difficulties
that can arise when treating children.
As an NHS authority, you and your employees are in a
particularly vulnerable position, and the quality of legal advice
and support we provide can make a real difference to the outcome of
any complaints made,or proceedings taken against you.
We routinely provide advice and support on issues such as
consent to treatment, patient confidentiality and data protection.
We also deal with complex issues relating to contraception, and
conflicting decisions between parents and their children and
parents and the treating doctors.
Among many other child law issues, we have represented NHS
Trusts with regard to Emergency Treatment Orders for children,
“best interests” applications, inquests, care in the community
and multi-agency liaison.