kate betts

What you should do (and not do) if you receive a patient complaint or notice of a civil claim or an investigation by the Office of the Health Ombudsman or AHPRA. Your obligations during the process, including maintaining the therapeutic relationship and the importance of open disclosure. Your rights and how your insurer and lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of complaints, claims and investigations. Learnings from recent cases involving health and medical practitioners.

With more than 15 years’ experience in civil litigation, Kate has expertise in health and medical law.  She attained a Masters of Health and Medical Law from the University of Melbourne in 2010.

Kate acts for healthcare providers and practitioners in relation to pre-litigated and litigated medical negligence claims, coronial investigations and inquests and investigations by the Office of the Health Ombudsman and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.  She has consistently acted for clients in Royal Commissions, Commissions of Inquiry and health service investigations and clinical reviews commissioned under the Hospital and Health Boards Act.

Having previously been seconded to a major tertiary hospital and two outer urban teaching hospitals as a legal counsel, Kate has acquired unique insight into the way the health care system is funded, organised, managed and operated. 

Kate also has a particular interest in bioethics and sits on the human ethics research committee for a major tertiary hospital as its legal member.