Breach of Duty Reports
Apex Experts provides comprehensive Breach of Duty and Causation Reports for clinical negligence claims. Our experienced healthcare Expert Witnesses assess whether the care provided met acceptable professional standards and whether any identified failings caused or contributed to patient harm, delivering clear, independent and evidence-based opinions to support medico-legal litigation.
What is a Breach of Duty and Causation Report?
Breach of Duty and Causation Reports are most commonly used in clinical negligence claims, cases which require expert evidence to determine liability/causation and ongoing litigation where court-ordered expert evidence is required. Breach of Duty and Causation reports are written by independent expert witnesses and are used in clinical negligence cases to specifically address two key questions:
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Breach of Duty – whether the healthcare professional’s actions fell below the standard expected of a reasonably competent practitioner in their field
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Causation – whether that breach directly caused, or materially contributed to, the injury or outcome in question
All of our Breach of Duty and Causation reports are prepared in strict accordance with CPR Part 35, and contain the required declaration and statement of truth. Every report is impartial, objective, and written independently. Our experts understand their overriding duty to the court.
What's Included in the Report?
Our Breach of Duty and Causation reports are charged on an hourly basis and typically cover:
Case Review – reading & analysing all medical records, witness statements, and documentation provided
Report Preparation – drafting a CPR compliant, clear and detailed report that sets out the expert’s professional opinion on breach of duty and causation
References – citing relevant clinical guidelines, literature, or professional standards to support the opinion
Application of relevant legal tests – e.g. Bolam and Bolitho principles, Hunter v Hanley or the 'Dunne' principles
Amendments – making reasonable changes following solicitor review or case developments
Fees You Can Rely On
We always provide a fee estimate, so there are no surprises. This estimation will be dependent on the volume of records, the number of allegations that need to be addressed, and the general complexity of the case. The hourly rate is set by the individual expert and reflects their specific area of expertise, the length of their clinical career, and their level of experience in preparing expert witness reports.