In focus: Gross negligence manslaughter review impacts healthcare

Earlier this year the Secretary of State for Health announced a review into the application of gross negligence manslaughter in healthcare led by Professor Sir Norman Williams. It was stated that this review was not set up to recommend changes to the law, but to look at how decisions are made within the current legal framework.

Eye care professionals were understandably keen to listen after the recent quashed conviction of optometrist Honey Rose.

Prof Williams wanted to carry out the review after recent cases led to an increased sense of fear and uneasiness within the healthcare professions and have also revealed arbitrariness and inconsistency in investigations and prosecutions of gross negligence manslaughter. The panel behind the review wanted to address and consider these inconsistencies in order to publish the document.