Catherine Henry Lawyers is expanding its award-winning health law service to better serve people in the Hunter and other parts of regional NSW to seek justice or compensation from rogue doctors and other instances of poor health care.
Erin Woodward has joined Catherine Henry Lawyers as a Senior Associate. Erin will work in Taree and at the firm’s principal office in Newcastle.
Erin said Catherine Henry Lawyers was representing a number of clients in cases against a number of high-profile, disgraced, rogue doctors.
Catherine Henry Lawyers principal, Catherine Henry, said having a personal injury lawyer of Erin’s calibre will help her firm to better service its current clients in Newcastle but also in its expansion into Taree, Port Macquarie and northern NSW.
Erin has more than 16 years’ experience in the personal injury field. She has a Bachelor of Law, a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and is a Law Society of NSW Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law.
Catherine said too many people living in regional NSW are reluctant to make complaints or to seek answers or justice from health professionals for fear of “rocking the boat”.
“We not only help people who have been victim of botched surgery but also those who experience birth trauma, receive incorrect prescription of drugs or anaesthetic, experience inappropriate behavior by a healthcare professional, or need assistance in accessing medical records,” Catherine said.
She said failed medical products is also an increasing area of interest for the firm and it is representing a number of women who had vaginal or pelvic mesh procedures.
“It is important for people to take a stand and hold doctors and local health professionals to account.”
“Those who have had substandard medical treatment are also entitled to compensation.”
“Litigation is also a very powerful tool in forcing changes to health care practices.”
Catherine has decades of experience in health and medical law, in both Sydney and the Hunter, working on many high-profile cases, particularly in relation to women’s health.
Her firm’s expertise was recognised late last year when she and senior associate, Lucy Wilk made the prestigious Doyle’s list of NSW’s top 16 medical negligence plaintiff lawyers.
Catherine Henry Lawyers is the only firm headquartered in Northern NSW and one of only two firms based outside of Sydney to make the list.
The team also includes specialist health law solicitors Tom Hunter-Leahy, Hayley O’Brien and Liza Stewart, as well as an in-house registered nurse Alex Wilson.
“Having in-house clinical expertise means that, unlike other firms, we are able to quickly get to the crux of the case because we know what the clinical practice should have been and the right questions to ask to establish the liability of the health care professional or health facility,” Catherine said.
“We have a 100 per cent success rate with health and medical law cases, making us the health law team in the Hunter and Northern NSW.”
Catherine said the firm’s recently launched free, e-resource to help women navigate the legal system has a large section on health law matters.
IMAGE | Erin Woodward and Catherine Henry Lawyers’ health law team outside Newcastle Courthouse.
