Scottish Court of Session Decisions

You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Scottish Court of Session Decisions >> AH AGAINST GREATER GLASGOW HEALTH BOARD AND ANOTHER; SR AGAINST JOHNSON AND JOHNSON MEDICAL LTD AND ANOTHER; YT AGAINST SPIRE HEALTHCARE LIMITED AND OTHERS; AND EN AGAINST GREATER GLASGOW HEALTH BOARD AND OTHERS [2018] ScotCS CSOH_57 (01 June 2018)
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Cite as: [2018] ScotCS CSOH_57, [2018] CSOH 57

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OUTER HOUSE, COURT OF SESSION

[2018] CSOH 57

A54/14, A821/15, A442/14 & A239/14

OPINION OF LORD BOYD OF DUNCANSBY

In the cause

Pursuer

against

(FIRST) GREATER GLASGOW HEALTH BOARD; and (SECOND) JOHNSON & JOHNSON

MEDICAL LIMITED

Defenders

and

Pursuer

against

(FIRST) JOHNSON & JOHNSON MEDICAL LIMITED; and (SECOND) LOTHIAN HEALTH

BOARD

Defenders

and

against

Pursuer

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(FIRST) SPIRE HEALTHCARE LIMITED; (SECOND) DR ALASTAIR MILNE; and (THIRD)

COUSIN BIOTECH SAS

Defenders

and

Pursuer

against

(FIRST) GREATER GLASGOW HEALTH BOARD; (SECOND) AMERICAN MEDICAL

SYSTEMS INC; and (THIRD) AMERICAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS UK LIMITED

Defenders

AH v Greater Glasgow Health Board &Johnson and Johnson

Pursuer: Smith QC, Ms Bennett, Ms Toner, Ms Connolly; Drummond Miller LLP

First defenders: Primrose QC, Bowie QC, Mr Reid, Mr Campbell; NHS Scotland Central Legal Office

Second defenders: Currie QC, C Paterson, A Smart; Clyde & Co

SR v Johnson and Johnson & Lothian Health Board

Pursuer: Smith QC, Milligan QC, Ms Bennett, Ms Toner, Ms Connolly; Thompsons

First defenders: Currie QC, C Paterson, A Smart: Clyde & Co

Second defenders: Primrose QC, Bowie QC, Mr Reid, Mr Campbell; NHS Scotland Central Legal

Office

YT v Spire Healthcare, Milne & Cousin Biotech

Pursuer: Smith QC, Milligan QC, Ms Bennett, Ms Toner, Ms Connolly: Lefevre Litigation

Second defender: Stephenson QC, Mr Dawson, Mr Pugh; MDDUS

Third defenders: Haldane QC, Mr Balfour; Dentons UKMEA LLP

EN v Greater Glasgow Health Board & American Medical Systems

Pursuer: Smith QC, Milligan QC, Ms Bennett, Ms Toner, Ms Connolly; Drummond Miller LLP

First defenders: Primrose QC, Bowie QC, Mr Reid, Mr Campbell; NHS Scotland Central Legal

Second defenders: Ellis QC; MacRoberts LLP

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1 June 2018

Introduction

[1] This opinion relates to four actions which arise out of the use of what are called vaginal

mesh products in treatment of the pursuers. There are over 500 cases presently before the court

arising out of the use of such products. All but 18, which have been selected as lead cases, are

sisted pending the outcome of these cases. Following case management hearings held in terms

of Rule of Court 42A.4 these four cases were selected for debate on the procedure roll.

[2] While the pursuers’ pleadings all refer to pelvic mesh products as a generic term there

are in fact two different types of products involved which treat different symptoms. These are

a vaginal tape which is used to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and a mesh used to treat

pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The common feature is that they both use polypropylene or

prolene. In this opinion I use the term “product” to refer to the tape or mesh used in the

individual treatment.

[3] These cases were set down for an eight day hearing. However as a result of the

comprehensive notes of argument and succinct submissions it was completed in five days. I am

grateful to counsel for their written and oral submissions.

The structure of this opinion

[4] I have elected to issue one opinion dealing with the four cases. There are two reasons for

this. First, as noted these are lead cases and it is hoped that the terms of this opinion can act as

guidance for other cases. Secondly, inevitably there was considerable overlap between the

submissions, even although different parties were represented. In consequence I have not

sought to replicate all of the submissions but I have hopefully captured the main points. For

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ease of reference I have referred to the Health Boards and Dr Milne, the third defender in EN,

collectively as “the doctors” and the three manufacturers as “the manufacturers”.

[5] For convenience I have divided the opinion into six chapters.

[6] In chapter 1 I set out the pertinent facts of the individual cases

1. AH

2. SR

3. YT

4. EN

[7] In chapter 2 I comment on the pursuers’ approach to pleadings in this case, the

submissions made by them and my approach in considering the submissions made by the

defenders.

[8] Chapter 3 deals with the common law case against the doctors. All four actions have a

common law case against the treating doctors in similar terms. Each of the pursuers allege that

the doctor, either a consultant gynaecologist or consultant urological surgeon, failed in their

duty of care by failing to advise them of the risks inherent in the use of the pelvic mesh product

and of reasonable alternatives. The issues that arise are as follows:

1. The pursuers in the pleadings list a number of alternative treatments which they

say should have been offered to the pursuers by the treating doctors but were not.

Both the pursuers and the doctors agree that following Montgomery v Lanarkshire

Health Board [2015] UKSC 11; 2015 SC(UKSC) 63 [2015] AC 1430 the alternatives to

be offered must be reasonable. The doctors submit that what is reasonable is to be

judged by the test in Bolam v Friern Hospital Management Committee [1957] 1 WLR

582 and Hunter v Hanley 1955 SC 200. The pursuers submit that what is reasonable

is to be determined by reference to what a patient might find reasonable after a full

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discussion of all the treatments whether or not these are available. I have referred

to this as the “Montgomery” issue.

2. The second issue relates to the specification of the case against the doctors and in

particular whether the pursuers have sufficiently averred the basis upon which the

doctors knew of the defects in the product. I have referred to this as the

“knowledge of the doctors.”

3. Having found against the pursuers in respect of the first issue and defects in the

specification of the case against the doctors I outlined the basis upon which the

cases against the doctors might proceed to a proof before answer.

4. I then deal with another issue of specification in particular the acceptance of risk

and causation.

5. Finally I set out my conclusions on the common law case against the doctors.

[9] Chapter 4 deals with the cases against the manufacturers. As pled the cases against the

manufacturers are based on the common law and breach of the Consumer Protection Act 1989.

In the course of the debate Mr Milligan informed me that the pursuers no longer insist on the

common law case against the manufacturers. There are two sub- headings to this chapter:

1. The relevancy of the cases based on the Consumer Protection Act.

2. I deal with some common issues of specification that arise in all of the cases

against the manufacturers.

[10] Chapter 5 concerns time-bar. The defenders plead that the cases are time barred under

section 17 or 22B of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. The pursuers contest

these pleas but in the alternative ask the court to exercise its discretion to allow the cases to

proceed under sections 19A and 22B(6). I deal with these matters as follows:

1. Factual background in each case

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2. The statutory framework

3. The parties submissions

4. Discussion of the applicable law – section 17 and 22B

5. Application of section 17 to the individual cases

6. Application of section 22B

7. Discussion of the applicable law to the exercise of the court’s discretion under

sections 19A and 22B(6)

8. Application of sections 19A and 22B(6)

It should be noted that Mr Ellis for the second and third defenders (the manufacturers) in EN

reserved his time bar plea.

[11] Chapter 6 contains conclusions and directions for the By Order hearing to follow the

issuing of this opinion.

Chapter One: The facts of the individual cases

[12] AH suffered for some time with stress incontinence and a vault prolapse. She

underwent a number of procedures. On 18 November 2008 she was seen by Dr Mahesh Perera,

a consultant gynaecologist at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He offered AH a surgical procedure

for pelvic floor repair. AH avers that he did not explain to her that the procedure would

involve the insertion of mesh or tape and was not made aware of the risks associated with such

a procedure. AH consented to the operation. On 19 February 2009 Dr Perera performed an

anterior prolift repair, a sacrospinous fixation with a capio suture and a posterior repair for her

vault prolapse and cystocele. In the course of the operation Dr Perera implanted Gynecare

Prolift Anterior Pelvic Floor Repair System manufactured by the second defenders (Johnson &

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Johnson Medical Limited). AH says that had she been aware of the risks of the operation she

would not have consented to it. She says that after the operation she continued to have pelvic

pain. On 27 November 2009 she had an operation for the excision of protruding mesh.

Following that operation she continued to have pelvic pain and vaginal discharge. Her

prolapse has recurred.

[13] The action is directed against, first Greater Glasgow Health Board, as Dr Perera’s

employer, and secondly Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited (Johnson & Johnson), the

manufacturer of the product.

[14] Towards the end of 2004 SR was suffering from SUI with urge and urgency. She was

referred to the department of gynaecology at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Following the

birth of her second child she became progressively aware of symptoms of vaginal prolapse. On

10 August 2009 she had a consultation and examination with Dr Lucie Dolan. She was found to

be suffering from pelvic organ prolapse (POP) insofar as she was suffering from first degree

rectocele, first degree cystocele and second degree uterine descent. Dr Dolan recommended

that SR undergo surgery in the form of vaginal hysterectomy, posterior and anterior

colporrhapy and the implantation of a tension-free vaginal tape (TVT). SR alleges that

Dr Dolan did not properly advise her of the risks or complications associated with a mesh

implantation procedure. SR underwent the operation on 15 October 2009. She avers that she

would not have undertaken the operation had she been properly advised of the risks. The

implantation procedure involved the insertion of a TVT tape described as “Gynecare TVT Laser

Tension Free Support” manufactured by the first defenders (Johnson & Johnson). Following

the operation SR has suffered from pain in her vagina, groin, back and legs, pain during bowel

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movements and pain and difficulty in voiding her bladder. She suffered from a sensation of

jagging inside her. On self-examination she was aware that the mesh product was protruding

from her vagina. On 1 June 2010 the pursuer underwent a further surgical procedure to excise

protruding mesh. Following the procedure she continued to suffer pain and the mesh

continued to protrude. On 29 July 2010 the mesh was found to be palpable. On 11 August 2010

she underwent a further excision procedure under general anaesthetic. The TVT implanted in

her is rigid, tight and contracted, consistent with dense scarification of the mesh. Her quality of

life has been adversely affected in a number of ways detailed in the pleadings.

[15] The action is directed against, first Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited, the

manufacturer of the product, and secondly, Lothian Health Board as Dr Dolan’s employer.

[16] From about 2000 YT suffered from stress urinary incontinence and in March 2004

reported urinary urgency and frequency. She consulted her GP in 2007 and 2008 and was

referred for private treatment at the Murrayfield Hospital with the second defender, Dr Alastair

Milne. The referral letter stated that she suffered from “moderately severe stress urinary

incontinence which is causing distress. She has heard about TVT taping and wonders if this

would be appropriate for her”. On 6 September 2008 she met Dr Milne. He discussed the

options available to treat her symptoms. She avers that he told her that she was a suitable

candidate for a surgical procedure involving the insertion of tension free trans vaginal tape.

She says that she was not told of the possible disadvantages and the risks associated with such

a procedure. On 23 September 2008 she was admitted to hospital. She again consulted with

Dr Milne who again, she says, failed to tell her of the disadvantages or associated risks. Having

apparently consented to the operation she underwent a cystoscopy and a surgical procedure

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involving the insertion of a transvaginal tape. The TVT was a suburethal support tape

manufactured and supplied by Cousin Biotech SAS. After the operation when the pursuer

came round from the anaesthetic she was in excruciating pain and passed out. She had a

period of time off work. She was problem free until about 2011/2012 when her stress urinary

incontinence problems returned. In around 2013 she started to develop pelvic pain, groin pain,

and difficulty in emptying her bladder which resulted in urinary tract infections. She was

unable to sit up straight, developed incontinence, altered bowel habits, loss of libido and

fatigue. She has developed allergies. On 12 May 2014 she underwent a transvaginal removal of

the mid portion of the vaginal sling. Since then she has experienced a marked improvement

and eventual resolution of her symptoms.

[17] The action was first directed against Spire Healthcare Limited who operate Murrayfield

Hospital. However the action so far as directed against them has been settled and they are no

longer in the process. The second defender is Dr Alastair Milne. The third defenders are

Cousin Biotech SAS.

[18] In about June 2006 EN attended her GP suffering from SUI. She was referred to the

Department of Urology at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow. She was reviewed in

November 2006 by Mr Mir, consultant urological surgeon who prescribed Duloxetine and

advised her to carry out pelvic floor exercises. She was seen again by Ms Granitsiotis, consultant

urological surgeon on 20 April 2007. She recommended that EN undergo a transobturator tape

(TOT) procedure involving the insertion of a sling to support her bladder. She was told that this

was a popular procedure and that Ms Granitsiotis had carried out a number of similar procedures

on other women, with successful outcomes. EN says that she was not told what the sling would

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be made from. She was told that it was possible that the TOT procedure would not be successful.

She says that she was not told of any specific risks or complications associated with the

procedure. She was not advised of any alternative procedures or products. On 24 June 2007 EN

underwent a TOT procedure during which a Monarc Subfascial Hammock, manufactured by

Astoria Women’s Health LLC was implanted in EN. In about June 2009 EN began to suffer from

faecal incontinence and urgency. Her symptoms of stress urinary incontinence began to return.

She developed urinary urge incontinence and detrusor instability. Symptoms of pain began to

return. She suffered from incomplete voiding of her bladder and had frequent urinary tract

infections. She developed kidney stones. In June 2011 she was referred by her GP to the

Department of Urology at Ross Hall Hospital, Glasgow. She was reviewed by Mr Dunn,

consultant urological surgeon who noted an ultrasound scan report which showed a smaller right

kidney with some upper pole scarring and a small simple cyst. She was subsequently seen at the

Southern General Hospital on 8 February 2012. Her abdomen was soft with some mild

tenderness in the right loin. On 22 June 2012 Ms Granitsiotis wrote to EN’s GP advising that she

should remain on prophylactic antibiotic long term.

[19] The first defenders in this case are Greater Glasgow Health Board the employers of

Ms Granitsiotis. The second defenders were originally American Medical Systems Inc, but now,

as result of amendment, Astoria Women’s Health LLC. The third defenders are American

Medical Systems UK Limited. The second and third defenders are jointly represented.

Chapter two: The pursuers’ approach to pleadings

[20] The purpose of written proceedings is to set out the case so that the defender and the

court can understand the basis of the action. It is an exercise in written advocacy. The pleadings

should disclose facts which, if proved, would amount in law to a substantive case and which at

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the very least require to be answered. In cases such as these, involving medical treatment and the

use of a medical product, one would expect to see a narration of the pre-existing condition, the

treatment, the product used in the treatment, the subsequent injury, the duty of care owed by the

treating doctor and how that duty of care was breached, the defect in the product used and how

the breach of duty and product defect each caused or contributed to the injury. The pleadings

need not, indeed should not, be elaborate but they should give fair notice to the defenders of the

allegations made against them.

[21] The pursuers’ pleadings are on the whole not an easy read. They are at times confused,

lacking in clarity and contradictory. Some of the pleadings are clearly extraneous and irrelevant.

Not surprisingly the defenders have criticised the specification in the pleadings and complained

of lack of fair notice as well as the relevancy of the cases against them. The problem appears to

stem from the pursuers’ approach which focuses on the alleged defects in the mesh products as a

generic issue rather than on the facts of the individual cases. There is also a tendency to conflate

the cases against the doctors with those against the manufacturers as if the issues are the same.

One example of this is the listing of numbers of journal and other articles seemingly on the basis

that both the manufacturers and the doctors ought to have been equally aware of them. Often

there is little attempt to match up the dates of the articles to the dates of the operation with the

result that many articles and other sources of information are listed well after the date of the

operation. There is a tendency to assume, without any supporting averments, that the treating

doctors should have the same knowledge about the product as the manufacturer. Equally I have

found it difficult to follow some aspects of the pleadings, in particular on causation.

[22] The Practice Direction No. 2 of 2015 sets out the requirements that were to be followed in

these cases during the period of the sist. That included intimation in the pursuer’s pack of

adjustments to the summons where not already included specifying amongst other things “the

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decision which the pursuer would have made had she been given advice, warnings and/or

counselling in the terms (which she contends should have been given to her)”. Generally the

pursuers have not said what decisions they would have taken had they been given the correct

advice or warnings.

[23] In answer to the defenders’ notes of argument the pursuers’ note of argument addresses

the issues of relevancy and specification. So far as relevancy is concerned they submitted,

“It is trite law that (1) a claim will only be dismissed on the grounds of relevancy if it is

bound to fail even if all of the pursuer’s averments are upheld; (2) the pursuer’s

averments are held pro veritate for the purposes of a debate and (3) it is unusual for a

case based in negligence to be dismissed on the grounds of relevancy;. Jamieson v

Jamieson 1952 SC(HL) 44 at 50 and 63; Miller v SSEB 1958 SC (HL) 20 at 32 and 33;

McArthur v Rayneway Plant Ltd 1980 SLT 74; Murray v Edinburgh DC 1981 SLT 253 at 256;

McGeouch v Strathclyde RC 1985 SLT 321; Meechan v BRB 1989 SCLR 772.”

[24] On specification the pursuers’ note of argument quotes from MacPhail’s Sheriff Court

Practice (3rd edition), paragraph 9.29:

“The degree of specification which will be deemed sufficient for fair notice depends on

the particular circumstances of each case. Enough specification must be given to enable

the other party to identify what is being alleged against him and to prepare his case.

When deciding whether the defender has been given fair notice of the pursuer’s case the

court will consider the matter broadly, and will regard a complaint of lack of fair notice

as justifiable only if it is likely to result in material prejudice to the defender.”

[25] In response to the general criticisms the pursuers have made a number of points. First

they urge that the court adopts a “modern” approach to pleadings. They should not be seen as

a conveyancing document and the court should bear in mind its case management powers.

These could be used to provide practical solutions to concerns regarding lack of notice by, for

example requiring parties to produce affidavits or the hearing of evidence on commission.

Secondly the pursuers say that they have been hampered by the lack of cooperation from the

doctors in failing to provide precognition facilities or answer written questions. In particular

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that has hampered their ability to state where the breakdown in communication between the

manufacturers and the doctors has occurred. It has also affected the pursuers’ ability to state

what alternative treatment they may have followed. They cannot do so until they know what

alternative treatment the treating doctor may have advised. Thirdly, insofar as the

manufacturers are concerned these actions are only part of a large number of actions being

pursued against them in various parts of the world. Accordingly they should be well aware of

the alleged defects of their products from these other actions. In any event the manufacturers

have vast resources unequal to those of the pursuers and the court should bear that in mind

when considering issues of specification. As these are test or lead cases of a wider cohort the

court should take a more relaxed view of the pleadings.

Discussion

[26] It may well be that this court will in due course need to give further consideration to

how it deals with a large number of actions each alleging similar facts with common defenders

and common legal issues. However I am bound by the rules and practice of the court. Any

innovation on these should not be to the prejudice of the parties. I was shown the pleadings in

the Australian case and the decision in Huskey v Ethicon United States District Court for the

Southern District of West Virginia dated 19 August 2015 as examples of how it was done in

these jurisdictions with an implicit invitation to follow their example.

[27] I accept that a record should not be seen as a conveyancing document. However the

importance of written pleadings has recently been reiterated by an Extra Division in Melville

Dow v Amec Group Limited [2017] CSIH 75 where the court rejected an argument that in a

chapter 43 case it was not necessary to specify the ground of fault; see Lord Brodie at

paragraph 91 and Lord Drummond Young at paragraph 139. Lord Glennie noted that while

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elaborate pleading is discouraged and there is no need to set out full specification of everything

that is sought to be proved, chapter 43 does not relieve a party from the requirement to give fair

notice in his pleadings of the case which the other side requires to be met; paragraph 180. As

to the case management powers open to the court in chapter 42A it is for the pursuer to plead a

relevant case; not for the court to take over the role. Litigation under chapter 42A is still an

adversarial not inquisitorial process.

[28] The pursuers complained about the lack of access to the doctors for the purpose of

precognition or to answer written questions. It should be recorded that counsel for the doctors

rejected the charge made by the pursuers. It is not necessary for me to adjudicate on this issue.

For reasons I set out below I reject the suggestion that the pursuers have been seriously

prejudiced by not having access to the doctors. In any event the answers for the doctors are full

and detailed.

[29] Finally in relation to the cases in other jurisdictions if there is anything in this point it

relates only to the manufacturers. And not to all of them; Miss Haldane advised me that so far

as Cousin Biotech SAS was concerned this was the only jurisdiction in which they were

involved in litigation about its pelvic mesh products. I do accept that the pursuers will not

have the resources available to the defenders. I also accept that a certain amount of generic

pleading is inevitable. But the relevancy of a case in this jurisdiction is judged by the pleadings

and not by reference to what might be happening elsewhere.

[30] The principles I have followed in considering the issues are these. First I take the

pursuer’s pleadings as pro veritate. Secondly, I accept that a case should only be dismissed if it

is bound to fail. I accept that it would be unusual to dismiss a personal injuries case based on

negligence on the grounds of relevancy; McArthur v Raynesway Plant Ltd per Lord Stewart

at 77. I can see no sound reason for adopting a different approach to a case under the

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Consumer Protection Act 1987. Specification in an action of negligence is a species of relevancy.

It would be an exceptional course to dismiss an action for want of specification. There are

many issues of specification raised by the defenders. In general I take the approach that they

are for consideration only where it is clear that the defenders would be materially prejudiced by

want of fair notice.

[31] It is not usual to look at the defender’s pleadings unless debating the pursuer’s pleas.

However in this case when considering the case against the doctors I have had regard to their

pleadings in order to understand the nature of the factual dispute between the parties and the

scope of the duties on the doctors. As I noted the pursuers have complained that they did not

get access to the doctors for the purposes of precognition. Nor have they had sight of their

statements. Mr Stephenson pointed out that in YT the statement of the second defender was to

all intents and purposes contained in the defences. The answers for the doctors in all of the

cases set out at some length the interaction between the pursuers and the treating doctors. In

those circumstances it would be wholly artificial to ignore the defenders’ pleadings. If the

defenders’ answer to the pursuers’ claim of prejudice is to point to the fullness of the defences

they cannot complain if the court then has regard to these pleadings. It is in any event not in

accordance with the spirit of chapter 42A, where parties are encouraged to make early

disclosure in order to narrow the issues between them, to ignore what is pleaded in defence.

That is not to turn the debate into one on the scope of the defenders pleadings but to use them

to help understand the conflict in the factual case and the consequent bearing on the issues for

the court.

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Chapter Three: The common law case against the doctors

The “Montgomery” Issue

Submissions for the doctors

[32] The doctors submitted that on a proper reading of Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board

the clinical standard as set out in Bolam v Friern Hospital Management Committee and Hunter v

Hanley continues to apply in relation to the question of what treatment options the doctor

should present to the patient. Thus, so far as the pursuers offer to prove that certain alternative

treatments were “reasonable treatment options”, to instruct a case of negligence they require to

show that no ordinarily competent clinician, exercising ordinary skill and care, would have

failed to offer those alternatives. They have no averments to that effect. They have intimated

no expert reports to that effect. That is not a case that they could make and insist upon in the

absence of proper expert evidence.

[33] In any action based on an alleged failure to advise of reasonable alternative treatment

options, a pursuer must specify, amongst other things: (i) the reasonable alternative treatment

options of which the pursuer should have been advised; (ii) the treatment options of which she

was in fact advised and; (iii) the alternative treatment which she would have elected to

undergo, had she been so advised. In the absence of sufficient averments in relation to each of

these matters, the pursuer’s case is irrelevant because it fails to specify the facts which, if

proved, would entitle her to seek a finding in relation to liability and causation.

[34] In an action of this kind it is not sufficient to simply list alternative treatment options

which are, in the abstract or as a generality, available to treat the type of condition from which

the purser was suffering. The assessment of available alternatives is fact sensitive; Montgomery

paragraph 89. It is necessary to identify which alternative treatment options were reasonable in

the particular case of the pursuer and why that is so.

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[35] Although reference had been made in each of the cases to alternative treatments that

should have been offered to the pursuer none of the pursuers say that they would have opted

for any of the alternatives. Mr Stephenson submitted that there was a distinction to be drawn

between a “no treatment” and an “other treatment” case. On the pleadings YT’s case is

therefore a “no treatment” case. The extensive averments about alternative treatments are thus

irrelevant, being unconnected with any loss sustained, and should be excluded from probation.

The pursuers’ response

[36] The pursuers respond that the court should bear in mind the simplicity of the pursuers’

case on consent. Broadly speaking, the alternatives to treatment available were those using

biological materials (autologous, porcine or cadaverous); or indeed in many cases not carrying

out the surgery at all. It is not suggested by the doctors that these alternatives were not known

to a surgeon practising in urogynaecology. The interpretation that the Hunter v Hanley/Bolam

test was still appropriate in relation to the alternative treatments offered to the pursuers still

applied following the decision in Montgomery was simply wrong; Montgomery, paragraph 83;

Webster v Burton Hospitals NHS Trust (2017) 154 BMLR 129 at paragraph 31. That is supported

by the GMC Guidelines entitled “Consent: patient and doctors making decisions together”. As

to what alternative treatments should be offered to a patient Mr Smith submitted that the test

was whether a reasonable patient would want that treatment. That might include treatments

which had been offered in the past but are no longer routinely offered or ones which the

treating doctor did not or could not offer but which other doctors might offer. It would also

include a treatment which might be offered to other patients but which a treating doctor would

decide could not be offered to the particular patient because of some other medical condition

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which would render it unsafe. In that event it is for the patient to decide the treatment and if

the doctor felt he or she could not give that treatment a second opinion might be required.

[37] As a matter of law the pursuer does not have to plead which of a number of alternatives

she would have chosen. It is a matter for the court to determine. The pursuer could succeed

without even giving evidence: see Webb v Barclays Bank and Anr [2002] PIQR P61 at

paragraph [42]. The pursuers have been prejudiced by the refusal of the doctors to provide

precognitions or witness statements, despite the provision of a detailed list of written questions.

A pursuer cannot be obliged to commit to one alternative over another when she does not

know what advice she would have been given by the treating doctor. It will have to be

determined by the court after the treating doctors have been led in evidence. The alternative

treatments available were known to the doctors.

Discussion

[38] The decision of the Supreme Court in Montgomery is an evolution on the professional

duty of care that a doctor owes to his patient. In Montgomery the issue was whether the mother

was told of the risks of shoulder dystocia associated with vaginal birth. That was a known risk

because of the mother’s diabetes.

[39] The ratio of the decision is to be found in paragraph 87:

“An adult person of sound mind is entitled to decide which, if any, of the available

forms of treatment to undergo, and her consent must be obtained before treatment

interfering with her bodily integrity is undertaken. The doctor is therefore under a duty

to take reasonable care to ensure that the patient is aware of any material risks involved

in any recommended treatment, and of any reasonable alternative or variant treatments.

The test of materiality is whether, in the circumstances of the particular case, a

reasonable person in the patient’s position would be likely to attach significance to the

risk, or the doctor is or should reasonably be aware that the particular patient would be

likely to attach significance to it.”

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The “reasonable alternative treatment” that was not offered to Mrs Montgomery was a

caesarean section. The decision not to offer that treatment was made, not on clinical grounds,

but in accordance with the doctors own beliefs. Clinically it was a reasonable alternative. In

reality of course there were only two alternatives; do nothing was not an option and there is no

other way to deliver a baby.

[40] The question which these cases raise is a little more complex. Clearly do nothing is an

option; each of the pursuers could no doubt with varying levels of pain, distress and

discomfort continue to live with the symptoms. There are also a range of alternative

treatments. Mr Stephenson informed me that there are over one hundred but even looking at

the pleadings there are a range of alternatives which are canvassed as possibilities.

[41] Mr Smith was somewhat expansive in explaining the range of alternative treatments

about which a doctor may be obliged to advise the patient in fulfilling the duty imposed on him

by Montgomery. These could include treatments which were no longer routinely used for that

condition, ones which were only just emerging even if not widely accepted and ones which the

advising doctor did not himself offer but which might be offered elsewhere. Nevertheless no

one was suggesting that there was no limit on the number of alternative treatments that could

or should be offered to a patient. The question is how in law that range could be sensibly

defined.

[42] The pursuers argue that what is a reasonable alternative is to be defined by the patient.

What the patient considered to be reasonable would emerge from the discussion that the doctor

would be expected to have with the patient. The doctors on the other hand say that the range

of alternatives are those that the doctor considers reasonable exercising his or her skill and

expertise as a reasonably competent doctor (the Hunter v Hanley/Bolam test) and are available.

Page 20 ⇓

[43] In my opinion the submissions for the doctors are to be preferred. If the pursuers are

right the doctor may well be obliged to advise the patient of alternative treatments which he or

she as a doctor would not consider as clinically suitable for the patient. Take, for example, the

case of a patient with a pre-existing condition who is being treated for another illness. There is

common and available treatment which is usually available to a patient with this illness.

However it is dangerous for those with the pre-existing condition. That may arise where, for

example, the combination of drugs used by the patient to treat the pre-existing condition with

those used to treat the illness gives rise to complications imposing unacceptable risks to the

patient. According to Mr Smith the duty on the doctor is to advise the patient of the existence

of the alternative remedy even if, in the particular case it is not considered to be a reasonable

alternative by the doctors. The explanation for this approach is that the patient may wish to get

a second opinion.

[44] That is not consistent with the approach in Montgomery. The submissions made by

counsel for the appellant to the Supreme Court are recorded at [2015] AC 1430 at 1435:

“Decisions about diagnosis and treatment must necessarily, and by definition, be made

by the medical practitioner by reference to his special skill, learning and experience in

an expert field which is not shared by the patient. By contrast decisions by the patient as

to whether to submit to proposed treatment are his to make as of right, and his to make

by giving whatever weight he thinks it right to put upon the risks and benefits which

the options available bring.”

This emphasises that the ratio of Montgomery is a limited, albeit important, innovation on the

rule in Bolam/ Hunter v Hanley. (See also Badenoch, Montgomery and patient consent: perceived

problems addressed (2016) 12 Clinical Risk 12 at page 14; Clerk & Lindsell on Torts 21st edition at

paragraph 10-76)

[45] What the treating doctor cannot do is to withhold information about a reasonable

alternative treatment and the risks associated with it on the basis of their own preferences. If a

Page 21 ⇓

treatment is reasonable and available it should be discussed with the patient. The Supreme

Court (paragraph 90) emphasised the importance of dialogue. This allows the patient to

discuss the proposed treatment, its risks and benefits and enable her to make an informed

decision about treatment. It may well be that during that process the availability of other

treatments may be discussed including those which the doctor may consider not clinically

advisable. A good doctor will no doubt explain the reasons for not pursuing a particular

alternative. However as a matter of law I do not consider that a doctor can be held to be in

breach of a duty to the patient for failing to advise on an alternative treatment which if

performed by the doctor would be a breach of their duty of care to the patient.

[46] The pursuers argue that they do not require to set out what alternative treatment the

pursuer would have opted for were she to have been advised of the alternatives. They cite

Webb v Barclays Bank and Anr as authority for the proposition that it is not necessary for the

pursuer to give evidence, and by extension to say what alternative the pursuer would have

taken. This misunderstands Webb. While it is clear that it is not necessary for the pursuer to

give evidence, the court in Webb were able to draw an inference from other evidence as to the

alternative that the claimant would have opted for.

[47] The pursuers also argue that they have been prejudiced by the failure of the doctors to

submit to precognition or answer questions in writing. Until they do so the pursuers cannot

know what alternatives were available and therefore cannot say what they would have done.

[48] I am not satisfied that the pursuers have been prejudiced in this case by any failure of

the doctors to give an account or answer questions. In the first place the pursuers say that the

alternative treatments were well known to doctors. If that is the case then there should be no

difficulty in the pursuers telling the court whether they would have opted for an alternative

treatment and if so which one. In any event if the pursuers had instructed an expert they

Page 22 ⇓

would have opinion evidence as to what alternative treatments were available for SUI and POP

at the time of the operations. Finally the answers for the doctors give fairly full details of the

interaction between the individual pursuers and the treating doctors.

[49] In each case the pursuers plead that the following alternatives were available; (i) use of

a vaginal support pessary; (ii) surgery using organic tissue; (iii) an abdominal anterior

colporrhaphy; (iv) a laparoscopic abdominal sacrocolcopexy; (v) having no treatment; or

(vi) having physiotherapy. That sits rather oddly with the submission that broadly speaking

the alternatives to treatment available were those using biological material or no surgery. It

also highlights the difficulty the pursuers have given themselves in proceeding with generic

averments which fail to address the specific medical condition which the individual pursuers

presented to the treating doctors. In none of the cases does the pursuer specify which of the

alternative treatments she would have opted for if she had been properly advised.

[50] Accordingly if the case for the pursuers is to the effect that the doctors failed to properly

advise of risks associated with the use of the product and of reasonable alternatives and that if

they had been properly advised they would have opted for one of the alternatives then they

need to specify which option they would have taken. To leave it to the proof prejudices the

defenders who will not know what case they require to meet. It follows that averments as to

availability of alternative treatments should not be admitted to probation.

[51] There is still a duty on the doctors to advise the patient of risks associated with the

proposed procedure. In the absence of averments as to reasonable alternatives it seems clear

that these are “no treatment” cases; that is that had they been advised of the risks associated

with the treatment ultimately undertaken by the pursuers in each case they would have opted

for no treatment other than perhaps conservative management of their symptoms.

Page 23 ⇓

[52] It should be noted that in each case the doctors in their answers have averred that they

did discuss alternative treatments with the pursuer. (In the case of SR whose medical condition

was perhaps more complex the second defender says that Dr Dolan discussed options for

treatment with the pursuer.) In some of the cases the doctors have given reasons why an

alternative was rejected. However in the absence of averments from the pursuer saying that

she would, had she been properly advised, have opted for one of the alternative treatments it

seems to me that these show the scope of the discussions that the doctors say took place but do

not assist the pursuers’ cases.

[53] I should also record that in the course of the debate Mr Smith presented a minute of

amendment in the case of SR in which the pursuer offers to prove the alternative treatment that

she would have undergone had it been offered to her. That was opposed by the defender. I

continued consideration of the amendment. Before determining the motion I have decided that

I should give the pursuer an opportunity to consider whether she wishes to continue with her

motion, drop it, or make another motion in the light of my findings.

[54] In conclusion subject to the discussion below I shall allow the actions against the doctors

to proceed on the basis of an alleged breach of duty to advise of the risks associated with the

procedure but not of alternative treatments.

Specification issues: The knowledge of the doctors

Submissions for doctors

[55] As a specification point Mr Stephenson submitted that in the case of YT the pursuer

cites publications which post-date the surgery conducted by Dr Milne as the basis upon which

the pursuer seeks to demonstrate Dr Milne’s knowledge at the time of the discussion which

preceded YT’s consent. Mr Stephenson submitted that the general averments that there was

Page 24 ⇓

increasing concern regarding the use of mesh from 2002 onwards were irrelevant and lacking in

specification. However he went on to make a broader point of significance to all of the cases

against the doctors. A doctor cannot be held negligent for failing to make a disclosure of

matters of which he had no knowledge, unless that knowledge can be imputed to him (ie,

unless it can be concluded that these were matters he ought to have known about), as was the

case in Webster. Therefore, a patient would have to set out to prove that a doctor knew or ought

to have known of the existence of the undisclosed risk, or some aspect of it such as its

magnitude or probability, before she can go on to argue that the doctor had a duty to disclose it.

Whether a doctor knew, or ought to have known about a risk is a matter that falls to be judged

against the usual Hunter v Hanley, or Bolam test. That is, it is a matter in the medical realm, and

analytically precedes the question of obligation to disclose.

[56] The written submissions for the NHS doctors in the cases of AH, SR and EN all make

similar specification points as to the knowledge of the doctors of the risks which the pursuers

say should have been communicated to the pursuer. In AH the first defender, points out that

there is a contradiction in the pursuer’s averments. In Condescendence 6 the pursuer avers that

she had a right to be advised by Dr Perera of the fact that there had been no testing of the

product and that as from 2005 there had been increasing reports of significant problems with

the product and increasing concerns about the safety and benefits of the product. She further

avers that the second defenders (Johnson & Johnson) marketed and sold their pelvic mesh

products as safe effective reliable medical devices and that they did not give adequate warning

of the risks either to doctors or to patients. However the pursuer does not say how, despite the

marketing of the product by the manufacturers, Dr Perera knew of the risks associated with the

product. There is no notice of the reports referred to in Condescendence 5 or any other reports

which would form the basis of Dr Perera’s knowledge. Reference is made to articles published

Page 25 ⇓

between 2007 and 2016 many of which postdate the operation. The pursuer relies on articles in

the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in February and September 2007

without any specification of why a doctor practising in a Scottish hospital should be aware of

these reports. The same applies to averments about warnings by the Federal Drugs

Administration (FDA).

[57] Similar points are made in both SR and EN.

Pursuers’ response

[58] The pursuers’ position appears to be this. They agree with the proposition that a doctor

cannot advise a patient of that which he does not know and it is only if he is negligently

unaware of the risk that he will be held liable. The pursuers lodged written notes of argument

dealing with the position of the doctor in the cases of AH, SR and EN. They are in exactly the

same terms (even to the point of criticising answers by the defenders relating to Dr Dolan, the

treating doctor in SR). They do not engage with these specific criticisms. Mr Smith did

produce a written response in the case of YT which he spoke to in the course of his response to

Mr Stephenson.

Discussion

[59] A doctor cannot advise a patient about a risk if he is unaware of it. In cases such as

these involving the use of a medical product it seems that there are potentially three sources for

the doctor’s knowledge. The first will be those which the manufacturer themselves bring to the

attention of the doctor using the product. These will normally be contained in the Instruction

for Use (IFU) but may be in other general or supplementary information addressed to treating

doctors.

Page 26 ⇓

[60] The second source is that associated with the doctor’s skill and expertise as a reasonably

competent doctor. That knowledge may be actual or imputed. It may include an obligation to

investigate where he is faced with a set of circumstances with which he is unfamiliar. In

Webster the trial judge found that the consultant obstetrician attending a mother had failed to

inform himself of the implications of the particular rare combination of features which she

presented. That obligation to keep himself informed would extend to new treatments.

[61] Where the treatment involves a medical device there is a duty on the doctor to apprise

themselves of the implications of the use of that device together with any risks associated with

its use. That again is part of the clinician’s duty to the patient but its importance is underlined

by the doctor’s role as a learned intermediary between the producer of the product and the

patient. The producer has no relationship with the patient who relies on the doctor to advise

them of the risks associated with it. As Hickenbottom J observed in Wilkes v DePuy International

Limited [2017] EWHC 3096 (QB) (paragraph 107):

“Parliament has determined that, in relation to such products, information about risks is

best relayed to, considered by, and applied and passed on to the patient by the treating

surgeon, who must advise that patient as to intervention choices, and seek and obtain

that patient’s informed consent to the particular chosen implant procedure.”

The doctor is also under an obligation to keep abreast of developments in the field of medicine

in which he practices by, for example, reading articles related to treatments which he uses in his

practice. In these cases the pursuers list a number of articles in journals without focussing on

which may be relevant to the particular case. It is trite to observe that the doctor’s knowledge

needs to be established as at the date of the treatment which was performed on the individual

pursuer. Those that post-date the operation are irrelevant for the purposes of establishing the

doctor’s knowledge at the time and it is not clear why they are mentioned.

Page 27 ⇓

[62] But whether an article in a journal is relevant for these purposes will I think depend on

the circumstances. Not all articles in professional journals would be accorded the same respect.

In general whether an article in a professional journal should place a doctor on notice of issues

or problems associated with a particular treatment should be judged on the Hunter v

Hanley/Bolam test. There may however be situations where the warnings contained in the

article are so clear and obvious that the court may say that any doctor should have been aware

of the implications without recourse to Hunter v Hanley.

[63] The third source of knowledge may come from warnings from regulatory bodies such as

the MHRA. It is not clear however why a doctor practising in the UK should have regard to

warnings from the FDA, though that may be a matter for proof.

[64] Each of the cases include the following averments:

“Accordingly, as from the date upon the surgery on the pursuer, the pursuer had the

right to be advised: (i) that there had been no testing for the efficacy and safety of the

mesh product; (ii) that as from 2005 onwards there had been increasing reports of

significant problems with the product; and (iii) as from the dates of the various

publications referred to above, there was increasing concern about the safety and

benefits of the product. Had the pursuer been advised of these matters she would not

have consented to undergo the operation”.

In none of the cases are these and related averments anchored in specification as to how the

treating doctor should have been aware of these facts. On their own they look mere assertions.

The defenders are entitled to notice of what it is they should have known and why they should

have that knowledge. I am satisfied that without further specification the defenders would be

prejudiced. Accordingly these averments should be excluded from probation.

[65] So far as the other averments bearing on the knowledge of the doctors are concerned it

is incumbent on the pursuer to identify the foundation of the knowledge which the pursuer

avers that he should have. It may be that it was said to have been communicated in the IFU (as

Page 28 ⇓

is the case in AH), or it was knowledge that should be imputed to the doctor because of the skill

and expertise which an ordinarily competent doctor should have.

[66] I shall invite parties to make further submissions on which averments are thus excluded

from probation.

The possible scope of the case against the doctors

[67] I recognise that my conclusions take out a substantial part of the case as pled against the

doctors. The issue is whether there is still a relevant case. However in each case there is a

significant factual dispute between the pursuer and the doctors as to what she was told. In

most of the cases as I note below the doctors have made fairly detailed averments about the

scope of discussion and advice that was given to the pursuer. These include, again in most

cases, fairly detailed averments by the doctor about advice given to the pursuer about specific

risks associated with the procedure. It is arguable that the advice that was given to the

pursuers in each case was given as part of the duty on the doctor to advise the patient of the

risks associated with the procedure.

[68] In AH the pursuer avers in condescendence 2:

“It was supplied with Instructions for Use (‘IFU’) entitled ‘Gynecare PROLIFT’ lists the

adverse reactions as including infection, inflammation, adhesion formation, fistula

formation, erosion, extrusion and scarring that results in implant contraction and that

punctures or lacerations of vessels, nerves, bladder, urethra or bowel may occur during

insertion. These were all material risks and were therefore known by Dr Perera and

should have been communicated to the pursuer.”

[69] The first defender’s answers detail a number of meetings at which alternative

treatments and risks were discussed. These averments include the following:

Page 29 ⇓

“Dr Perera fully counselled the pursuer about the risks associated with the proposed

surgery. This included a discussion about failure of the procedure, infection, bleeding,

injury to organs such as bowel and bladder and problems with mesh erosion. Dr Perera

also warned the pursuer of the risk of long-term pain arising from the procedure. He

warned her of the risks of thrombo-embolism and of the risk of denovo bladder

symptoms.”

There then follows averments about her discussion with Dr Sircar on the day of the operation.

“Dr Sircar documented his discussion of risks with the pursuer in the hospital records.

The entry confirms that the operation was explained to the pursuer again that day. The

pursuer indicated that she was aware of the risks associated with the operation,

including bleeding, infection, rejection of mesh, bowel/bladder injury and recurrence.

The surgery was performed that day, 10th February, 2009. The pursuer suffered a

known complication of her surgery, namely mesh erosion or exposure. She had been

counselled about this risk prior to surgery.”

In reply the pursuer denies that she was told these things although she accepts that she was

advised that there was a small risk of infection.

[70] It appears therefore that there is a significant factual dispute between the parties on the

advice that she was given about the risks. These risks include the risks that Dr Perera was

advised about in the IFU. I think it is clear that Dr Perera had a duty to communicate these

known risks to the pursuer. The first defender through the answers says that he did. The

pursuer disputes this. If the pursuer is correct and, despite the terms of the answers, Dr Perera

is found not to have communicated these risks then there is a potential liability to the pursuer.

[71] In SR the purser avers in condescendence 4 that Dr Dolan did not properly advise of any

risks or complications of the mesh implementation procedure. In answer 4 the second defender

avers:

“Dr Dolan explained the risks associated with the procedure to the pursuer, including

the high risk of recurrence due to the pursuer’s relatively young age and the condition

of her internal tissues. At the conclusion of the discussion, the pursuer agreed to be

placed on the waiting list for surgery. The pursuer met with Dr Dolan on 15th October

Page 30 ⇓

2009 prior to her surgery. Dr Dolan discussed the nature and purpose of the procedure

to the pursuer, as well as the attendant material risks, including dyspareunia,

laparotomy, bleeding, infection, voiding difficulties, overactive bladder, failure to cure

her SUI, mesh erosion and the absence of data in relation to long-term outcomes. At the

conclusion of the discussion the pursuer signed the consent form confirming that she

wished to proceed with surgery.”

Accordingly there is a factual dispute about whether or not the pursuer was given the advice

which Dr Dolan avers in the answers.

[72] The pursuer avers that she was not informed of the risks associated with the procedure.

In answer the second defender replies that:

“The second defender advised the pursuer of the risks of the tension free mesh

procedure including (a) the possibility that the procedure might not cure her SUI

symptoms or might not relieve them completely (b) injury to other organs (in particular

the bladder) (c) erosion of the mesh (d) voiding problems after the procedure (e) groin

discomfort and (f) bleeding. He mentioned that there would be a low risk of infection.

The second defender explained to the pursuer that the procedure involved the insertion

of a tape product made from synthetic material, namely polypropylene. He mentioned

to the pursuer that this was a more inert material than had been available previously

and that in his experience it had therefore produced less problems. He mentioned that

the product would not dissolve and that it would stay in the pursuer’s body. He

indicated using his fingers the rough width of the tape. He mentioned that the tape

would hold the urethra up by forming scar tissue.”

Again by reference to the second defender’s pleadings it is clear that there is a factual dispute

between the parties as to whether the pursuer was told of the risks set out in the second

defender’s pleadings.

[73] The pursuer avers in condescendence 2 as follows:

“Ms Granitsiotis recommended that the pursuer undergo a transobturator tape (‘TOT’)

procedure. Ms Granitsiotis advised the pursuer that the procedure involved the

insertion of a ‘sling’ as a support to her bladder. The pursuer was advised that this was

a popular procedure and that Ms Granitsiotis had carried out a number of similar

procedures on other women, with successful outcomes. Ms Granitsiotis did not advise

Page 31 ⇓

the pursuer what any proposed sling would be made from. The pursuer was not

shown any product. Ms Granitsiotis informed the pursuer that it was possible that the

TOT procedure would not be successful in stopping her stress incontinence. The

pursuer was advised that the TOT, once implanted, may not be tight enough and that, if

that were the case, it may not be successful in alleviating her symptoms of SUI. No

specific risks or complications relative to the use of pelvic mesh products as hereinafter

condescended upon were discussed with the pursuer. No alternative procedures or

products were discussed with the pursuer. In particular, the pursuer was not advised of

the possibility of surgery using native tissue. She was not advised that the use of native

or organic material in surgery had the advantage that, if the surgery were to fail, it could

be repeated. She was not advised that the TOT was a permanent implant which would

be difficult, if not impossible, to remove once inserted…..The pursuer was given written

information in relation to post-operative advice following a TOT insertion procedure.

She was given no written material in relation to what the procedure itself entailed, or

the associated and potential complications as hereinafter condescended upon. She was

not advised of the risks from the TOT surgery of chronic pain, infection, vaginal

bleeding, sexual dysfunction, de novo urinary incontinence, the need for long-term

catheterisation, the risk of injury to bowel, blood vessels, bladder and urethra or the risk

of the need for repeated surgery. She was not advised of the risk of erosion, extrusion

or exposure of the product”

In response the first defender makes the following averments:

“Ms Granitsiotis discussed transobturator tape procedure (‘TOT’) with her. She

discussed that a TOT was made from an artificial material. She discussed the risks of

undergoing such a procedure fully with the pursuer. She warned her that she could

have a number of complications following such an operation, including de novo

detrusor over-activity, an inability to empty her bladder completely, giving rise to a

need for intermittent catheterisation and post-operative pain at her exit wounds. Ms

Granitsiotis also discussed the risks of infection, bleeding, failure of the procedure,

erosion, sexual dysfunction, long-term pain, thigh pain and urinary urgency. Ms

Granitsiotis explained to the pursuer that the TOT could be ineffective if it was too loose

or too tight, the latter possibly leading to voiding difficulties. She also gave the pursuer

a detailed leaflet about the TOT procedure. Ms Granitsiotis discussed urethral bulking

agents and the risks and benefits associated with these. It was explained to the pursuer,

amongst other things, that urethral bulking agents had a higher failure rate, were

unlikely to be a permanent solution to her SUI and would likely require to be repeated.

The pursuer wished to go ahead with the TOT procedure. The pursuer attended a pre

assessment clinic on 14th June, 2007. The pursuer was noted as having been provided

with a TVT leaflet, which was a leaflet that detailed both a TVT and TOT operation,

including associated risks.

Page 32 ⇓

[74] Accordingly, having regard to the scope of the averments for the first defender it is clear

that there is a real factual dispute between the pursuer and the first defender as to what advice

was given to the pursuer.

[75] In each of these cases the doctors have made detailed averments which are, for the most

part, disputed, as to advice and information they gave to the pursuers on the risks associated

with the operation to implant the product. It is arguable that such advice was given by the

doctor in implementation of his duty of care to the patient to advise her of the risks. If, despite

the defenders averments, such advice was not given as the pursuers allege, then there is a

potential breach of the duty of care to the pursuer.

Specification issues: Risks and causation

Submissions for doctors

[76] The doctors submitted that the pursuers in each case narrate a lengthy list of risks that

they assert were material to them but make no attempt to connect those to the losses claimed.

Furthermore, on the face of it most of the risks appear not to have materialised. Accordingly

the claims are irrelevant. In general, there are three categories of risks: (a) those that the patient

knew of and accepted; (b) those that the patient did not know about but should have been told

of; and (c) those that the patient did not know about and there was no duty to inform them. It

is only where a category (b) risk materialises that the clinician is liable in negligence and that

liability is restricted to the loss caused by the materialisation of that category (b) risk. The

correct analysis involves consideration of the principles of scope of duty and causation. The

two concepts overlap. The scope of duty principle involves a distinction between a breach of

duty which gives the occasion for loss (a factual question), and one which is the legally

substantial cause of the loss (a normative question). Damages can only be awarded if the loss

Page 33 ⇓

which the claimant sustained was within the scope of the duty to take care; Hughes-Holland v

BPE Solicitors and another [2017] UKSC 21; [2017] 2 WLR 1029 at paragraphs 20 and 23 the case

law dealing specifically with the issue of negligent disclosure of multiple risks in a clinical

context is limited. The High Court of Australia analysed the issues in depth in Wallace v Kam

[2013] HCA 19; (2013) 250 CLR 375. In it a surgical procedure involved two distinct risks

(A and B). The doctor negligently failed to mention risk B. The patient agreed to proceed with

the operation and risk A materialised. The claimant argued he would not have gone ahead

with the operation if he had been told about both risks – and would therefore not have suffered

from the damage caused by the risk A materialising. The High Court held that the claim failed

and the fact that the claimant would have declined the treatment was irrelevant. It held that the

policy of the law was to protect the patient from the occurrence of physical injury, the risk of

which is unacceptable to the patient; the policy was not to protect the right to choose or to

protect the patient from all unacceptable risks. The alternative conclusion would lead to the

result that the patient is compensated for the eventuation of a risk she was willing to accept.

The court found support for its conclusion in the House of Lord’s case of Chester v Afshar

[2004] UKHL 41; [2005] 1 AC 134

[77] In Montgomery the court observed that the issue of causation, where an undisclosed risk

has materialised, is closely tied to the identification of the particular risk which ought to have

been disclosed; paragraph 98. In the present case, the purpose of the duty to take reasonable

care to ensure that a patient is aware of material risks inherent in the treatment is to allow a

patient to avoid a risk of injury that she would not be prepared to take and is the counterpart of

her entitlement to decide whether or not to incur that risk; paragraph 82. These observations

are consistent with the approach in Wallace.

Page 34 ⇓

[78] In Moyes v Lothian Health Board 1990 SLT 444 the Lord Ordinary (Caplan) observed,

obiter, that in the event of a negligent failure to warn, it would not have mattered that the risk

that materialised was not one that should have been warned about, provided that the patient

would have refused to undergo the operative procedure. Moyes, however, is (a) distinguishable

from the present case (and Wallace) on the ground that it involved a single physical injury to

which there were a number of factors contributing to the risk of that physical injury occurring;

(b) pre-dates cases like Montgomery, Chester, and BPE/SAAMCO and (c) appears to be

considering the point under reference to the first, factual, question and did not consider the

second, normative, question.

[79] In the context of liability under the Consumer Protection Act Mr Currie submitted that a

claimant in a professional negligence action could only recover that part of the loss which was

within the scope of the duty of care of the defendant. The issue had been considered by

Lord Sumption in Hughes-Holland v BPE Solicitors and another. In his submission the

manufacturers gave information to the treating doctor. They could not be described as advisors

to the patient. Accordingly they could not be held responsible for losses flowing from the

patient’s decision to have the operation; they could only be held responsible for losses resulting

from any alleged deficiencies in the information for use provided to the doctor with the

product. The relevant risk was the one which the defender had to warn about, but failed to do

so, and which materialised; Wallace v Kam, paragraph 24. In his submission the fundamental

deficiency in the pursuers’ pleadings was the failure to link the risk which the manufacturers

negligently failed to advise to the damage to the pursuer.

Page 35 ⇓

Pursuers response

[80] In order to provide fully informed consent the patient must have notice of all of the

relevant risks and not merely those which ultimately arise. For example, imagine an operation

that carries a 50% risk of mortality and a 1% risk of blindness and the treating doctor only

warns the patient of the 1% risk of blindness. If the patient consents to the operation and then

goes blind, it is no defence to say that he was warned of that 1% risk. There was clearly a

breach of duty at the point of warning. If the patient would have refused the operation on the

basis of the high mortality risk, there is also a causal connection between that breach and the

ultimate injury. Accordingly, the patient would have a valid claim against the treating doctor.

[81] The defenders’ arguments on this point are based on a misunderstanding of

Hughes-Holland v BPE Solicitors, which dealt with the situation of a professional advising on one

of a series of broader risks, some of which were outwith the scope of his duty to advise on (the

so-called “mountaineer’s knee” principle). This is not such a situation. All of the risks were

within the adviser’s scope of duty. The pursuer was entirely reliant on the professional advice

given to them in making their decision. In this situation the adviser is responsible for all losses,

regardless of whether the risk negligently advised on eventuates. A product can be defective

even where no risk at all eventuates; Boston Scientific [2015] 3 CMLR 6. In any event, the

manufacturers and doctors between them are advisers, not merely providers of information, in

terms of the analysis in Hughes-Holland. This is demonstrated by the learned intermediary

defence. The pursuer avers that she was not given adequate advice by her doctor – she cannot

know whether that is because the manufacturer failed to tell the doctor, or the doctor failed to

pass on what he had been told by the manufacturer. It is clearly within the scope of the duty of

both the manufacturer and the doctor to warn the pursuer of all material risks. In Wallace v

Kam, the court approved of the reasoning of Lord Caplan in Moyes v Lothian Health Board but

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then added a gloss that does not exist in the original reasoning. Even if that gloss is justified

and is part of Scots law (which is not accepted), it does not apply in the present case. The risks

here are all of one single physical injury, with the same cause (polypropylene) and damage to

the same part of the body. At the very least, these very fine distinctions cannot be determined

as a matter of pure relevancy. They are classic proof before answer points.

Discussion

[82] In Moyes v Lothian Health Board a patient suffered a stroke while undergoing an

angiography. An angiography is an invasive diagnostic technique involving a degree of risk of

symptoms including stroke amounting to between 0.2 and 0.3 percent in a healthy patient.

There are special risks including a hypersensitivity to the contrast medium used in the

angiography. Where that is present it may double the risk. The pursuer claimed that she had,

on an earlier CT scan, suffered an allergic reaction to the contrast medium, that it had been

observed by the junior doctor who had given her anti-histamine tablets, and that it should have

been noted in the medical records. There was a further issue as to whether a history of

migraine presented a special risk.

[83] One of the issues in the proof was whether the treating doctor had warned the pursuer

of the risks associated with the procedure. The doctor said that he had warned of the risk of a

stroke but not of the special risks, in particular stemming from hypersensitivity. Lord Caplan

found as a fact that she had not suffered a hypersensitive reaction on a previous occasion. He

also found that the stroke had not been caused by an allergic reaction. However the pursuer’s

counsel had argued that even although the hypersensitivity had not caused the stroke it was an

aggravating factor and the pursuer should have been warned about it. If the pursuer had been

properly advised on the cumulative risks she would not have agreed to the angiography.

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Accordingly failure to warn her that the allergy put her at added risk caused her loss in the

sense that had she known of that risk along with the others she would not have agreed to the

operative procedure. Lord Caplan dealt with this at page 447:

“The ordinary person who has to consider whether or not to have an operation is not

interested in the exact pathological genesis of the various complications which can occur

but rather in the nature and extent of the risk. The patient would want to know what

chance there was of the operation going wrong and if it did what would happen. If we

were to suppose a situation where an operation would give rise to a 1 per cent risk of

serious complication in the ordinary case but where there could be four other special

factors each adding a further 1 per cent to the risk, a patient to whom all five factors

applied might have a 5 per cent risk rather than the 1 per cent risk of the average

person. It is perfectly conceivable that a patient might be prepared to accept the risk of

one in 100 but not be prepared to face up to a risk of one in 20. If a doctor contrary to

established practice failed to warn the patient of the four special risks but did warn the

patient of the standard risk and then the patient suffered complication caused

physiologically by the standard risk factor rather by one or other of the four special risks

factors I do not think the doctor should escape the consequences of not having warned

the patient of the added risks which that patient was exposed to. A patient might well

with perfect reason consider that if there were five risk factors rather than one then the

chance of one or other of these factors materialising was much greater. The coincidence

that the damage which occurred was due to the particular factor in respect of which a

warning was given does not alter the fact that the patient was not properly warned of

the total risks inherent in the operation and thus could not make an informed decision

as to whether or not to go through with it. In the example I give, by going through an

operation with five risk factors rather than one the patient was exposed to a degree of

risk materially in excess of what the patient had been warned about and was prepared

to accept. If he had been given due warning he would have not risked suffering adverse

complication from that particular operation and the fact that such complication occurred

is causal connection enough to found a claim against the doctor.”

[84] Moyes was considered by the High Court of Australia in Wallace v Kam. The claimant

had sought medical assistance in relation to a condition of his lumbar spine. The surgical

procedure had inherent risks. One was of temporary local damage to nerves within his thighs,

described as “bilateral femoral neurapraxia” resulting from lying face down on the operating

table for an extended period of time. Another distinct risk was a one in twenty risk of

permanent and catastrophic paralysis resulting from damage to his spinal nerves. The surgical

procedure was unsuccessful and his spine did not improve. The first risk of neurapraxia

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materialised. The second of paralysis did not. The trial judge found that Dr Kam negligently

failed to warn Mr Wallace of the risk of neurapraxia. But he also found that even if he had been

told of the risk he would nevertheless have chosen to undergo the surgical procedure.

[85] The court said that Lord Caplan’s approach in Moyes was entirely appropriate to a case

that involves the coming home of a risk of a single physical injury to which there are several

contributing factors the combination of which operate to increase the risk of that physical injury

occurring. It was not however applicable to a situation which involved the materialisation of

one of a number of distinct risks of different physical injuries. At paragraph 62 the court said

this:

“Consideration of a case involving the materialisation of one of a number of distinct

risks of different physical injuries makes it necessary to return to the nature of the duty

and the policy that underlies its imposition. The duty of a medical practitioner to warn

the patient of material risks inherent in a proposed treatment is imposed by reference to

the underlying common law right of the patient to choose whether or not to undergo a

proposed treatment. However, the policy that underlies requiring the exercise of

reasonable care and skill in the giving of that warning is neither to protect that right to

choose nor to protect the patient from exposure to all unacceptable risks. The

underlying policy is rather to protect the patient from the occurrence of physical injury

the risk of which is unacceptable to the patient. It is appropriate that the scope of

liability for breach of the duty reflect that underlying policy.”

The underlying policy is that the pursuer should not be compensated for a risk that she was

prepared to accept.

[86] In Hughes-Holland Lord Sumption draws a distinction between a professional person

who supplies information and one who advises. The advisor becomes liable for risks of the

whole decision – the person who gives information only for those risks covered by that

information. Mr Bowie argued that in this case the doctors were in the position of information

givers, not advisors. Accordingly they were only responsible for those risks covered by

information given to the patient. Mr Currie submitted that so far as the manufacturers were

concerned they were not advisors.

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[87] I am not convinced of the applicability of the Hughes-Holland analysis to the clinical

relationship between doctor and patient. It is true that Hughes-Holland dealt with the advice

that a professional person may be expected to give to a client in respect of risk and his liability

for losses occurring as a result of his failure to advise in accordance with that duty. However I

note that neither Montgomery nor Wallace v Kam was cited to the court or referred to in the

judgment of Lord Sumption. From the patient’s perspective I doubt that they would regard the

doctor as a mere giver of information. The doctor will usually have assumed a wider

responsibility for the care of the patient which involves a diagnosis and treatment. The patient

in these circumstances may have already relied on the doctor’s diagnosis. I doubt that they

would then see the doctor’s discussion of proposed treatments and reasonable alternatives as

anything other than advice.

[88] The key question is this; would the pursuer have been prepared to accept the risk which

led to her loss and damage? If the answer is yes then even if there is a breach of duty in failing

to communicate that risk to the pursuer she cannot succeed. That is because the causal link

between the breach of duty and the loss is broken by the pursuer’s willingness to accept the

risk. As the court decided in Wallace v Kam a claimant should not be compensated for a

physical injury the risk of which she was prepared to accept.

[89] It is clear that there are two possible approaches to assessing the issue of risk and its

acceptance by the pursuer. The first is the one which was adopted by Lord Caplan in Moyes

and sees the risk as cumulative. As Lord Caplan says:

“The ordinary person who has to consider whether or not to have an operation is not

interested in the exact pathological genesis of the various complications which can occur

but rather in the nature and extent of the risk. The patient would want to know what

chance there was of the operation going wrong and if it did what would happen.”

That however does not answer the question as to whether she should be compensated.

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[90] The second approach is that taken in Wallace v Kam where there were two distinct risks

associated with the one operation.

[91] Both approaches have their merits but I am not clear that the circumstances of these

cases neatly fit into either case. In all of the cases the outcome that the pursuers allege is not

confined to one complication, such as the neurapraxia in Wallace v Kam. They aver that they

have suffered pain, vaginal discharge, return of SUI or prolapse, extrusion of mesh as well as

other symptoms. Nor do they occur at one time but often over a period of time. They do not fit

into the neat boxes of risk A or risk B that forms the basis of Wallace v Kam.

[92] Whether a pursuer would have accepted a risk may be quite nuanced and will depend

on the individual circumstances. That is particularly so when there are a range of injuries some

more severe than others. Some may be acceptable and some not. It may be that in some cases it

is the risk of a combination of potential injury that may be unacceptable.

[93] The decisions in Moyes and Wallace v Kam followed on a proof of the facts. At this stage

it would be premature for me to say that the approach taken by either Lord Caplan or the High

Court of Australia is to be preferred. Accordingly on this issue I agree with the pursuers that

this is a matter for a proof before answer.

Conclusions on the common law cases against the doctors

[94] The pursuers’ cases against the doctors are flawed in a number of respects. The

approach appears to have been to start from the proposition that there was a fundamental

problem with the use of vaginal mesh products and that there were quite a number of

alternative treatments which would have been better. Having started from that proposition the

pursuers then list all the alternative available treatments that should have been offered to the

individual pursuer without analysing whether these were reasonable alternative treatments for

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that particular pursuer. The pursuers then say that they were not offered alternatives. In most

cases that is disputed by the doctors though it is true that they were not offered the full range of

alternatives set out by the pursuers. In some cases the doctors give reasons why some

alternatives were not available. However it seems to me that none of this matters since the

pursuers (a) fail to identify what are the reasonable alternatives for that pursuer, and (b) with

the possible exception of SR fail to say which alternative she would have taken.

[95] Having made those errors the pursuers then attempt to hold the doctors responsible for

the alleged defects by building a case based on a negligent failure to warn of the risks

associated with the product. In doing so they fail to identify how it is the doctors have, or

should have, knowledge of these risks.

[96] The cases against the doctors can only rescued by holding, first, that these are ‘no

treatment’ cases where it can be assumed that having had advice they would have opted not to

have had any treatment, other than perhaps conservative management of their symptoms. That

has an obvious problem for the pursuers in the damages that might be awarded. Secondly the

cases rely on the detailed answers given by the doctors in setting out what advice they say was

given to the pursuer. That will be a matter for proof and will depend on the credibility and

reliability of the pursuer and the treating doctors. It appears that the averments in answer

draw on the medical records, including the consent forms signed by the pursuer. The veracity

of the records appear to have been put in dispute by the pursuers in some of the cases but given

the lapse of time for reasons set out below when discussing time bar, it may be that the records

take on greater significance. These are issues that the pursuers will have to face at proof.

[97] For completeness I should note that all of the cases against the doctors aver that had it

not been for the doctor’s breach of duty the pursuer would not have suffered loss and damage

and breach of personal autonomy. The defenders submitted that this was irrelevant citing Shaw

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v Kovac [2017] EWCA Civ 1028 and Diamond v RDE NHS Foundation Trust [2017] EWHC 1495

(QB). The pursuers informed me that they did not insist on that part of the claim and I shall

exclude these averments from probation. I was nevertheless invited by the defenders to give

my opinion on the matter for future reference. I decline to do that in the absence of full

submissions.

[98] I shall invite further submissions from the parties on the scope of averments excluded

from probation and whether there is then a relevant case on the basis I have set out above.

Chapter 4: The case against the manufacturers

Relevancy of the cases under the Consumer Protection Act 1987

Submissions for manufacturers

[99] Mr Currie, Ms Haldane and Mr Ellis all submitted detailed and helpful notes of

argument supplements by oral submissions. What follows is a distillation of their submissions

which all had similar features. All commended the approach of Hickinbottom J in Wilkes v

Depuy International Limited [2016] EWHC 3096 (QB).

[100] In terms of section 3 of the 1987 Act there is a defect in a product if the safety of the

product is not such as persons generally are entitled to expect. The pursuers had all failed to

identify the defect that caused the damage. No explanation is given of the manner in which the

particular product supplied to the pursuer is said to have been defective. It is not a standard of

absolute safety. It is rather a relative standard related to what people are entitled to expect. It

involves a consideration of the risks and benefits associated with the product. There is no

recognition that a product may have side effects or indeed a complication risk. The fact that

there is such a risk does not of itself infer that it is defective. The pursuers’ fundamental error is

to conflate risks with defects.

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[101] Section 2(1) of the 1987 Act imposes liability “where any damage is caused wholly or

partly by a defect in a product”. The issue of damage being causally connected with a defect is

therefore at the heart of the liability: Wilkes at paragraph 73.

[102] If the defect is alleged to be the use of polypropylene, then the pursuers require to

address all these issues in that context. The pursuers fail to aver an injury caused by a defect. If

it is the use of polypropylene, then they must aver a causal connection between that feature of

the product and her subsequent condition.

[103] The pursuers say that the manufacturers failed to put out proper and reasonable

warnings of the “very serious potential consequences that could occur in a recipient of a pelvic

mesh product”. It is not clear whether that is alleged to be part of the defect. However it is

irrelevant because the pursuers fail to specify what the alleged risks are. The defenders are

entitled to specification of these matters in order that they know the case they are required to

meet and for the defence available under section 4(1)(e) of the 1987 Act.

[104] In determining what persons generally are entitled to expect in relation to a product, the

court is required to take into account all the circumstances including the matters specified in

subsections 3(2)(a), (b) and (c). It follows that in pleading her case the pursuer must make

relevant and specific averments of the relevant circumstances including those specified in those

subsections. Section 3(2)(a) specifies one circumstance as:

“the manner in which, and purposes for which, the product has been marketed, its get-

up, the use of any mark in relation to the product and any instructions for, or warnings

with respect to, doing or refraining from doing anything with or in relation to the

product.”

Yet the pursuers failed to make relevant averments about the instructions for use (IFU’s) issued

with the products. Indeed they had somewhat contradictory approaches. In SR the pursuer

simply denies the averments regarding the TVT IFU. In AH the pursuer admits the risks

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specified in the Prolift IFU and maintains that Dr Perera did not communicate those to the

pursuer.

[105] The position of a learned intermediary, such as a clinician is a relevant circumstance;

Wilkes paragraphs 106 and 108. That was clearly relevant here where there is no direct

relationship between manufacturer and the patient. Yet the pursuers do not address the issues

which arise from the supply of a medical product to clinicians who will decide in the exercise of

their clinical judgment whether or not to use that product.

[106] The date of supply is the date to test whether there is a defect - what were persons

generally entitled to expect as at that date. That issue is not addressed. Many of the articles

referred to postdate the date of supply. In EN they all do. The averments of knowledge of

“lack of substantial benefit” and the averments of evidence of risks to patients are not

supported by relevant or specific averment. The pursuer in EN makes no attempt to deal with

the averments by the second and third defenders of general acceptance of similar products

including by the NHS reviews in England and Wales and Scotland. To give fair notice the

pursuer has to indicate her position about the available knowledge (for example Government

reviews which conclude that similar products have acceptable risks). She needs to explain why

she will say, notwithstanding such conclusions, the product when supplied was of a standard

which is less than persons generally are entitled to expect.

Pursuers’ response

[107] The pursuers’ note of argument starts with a recital of the general law on the question of

relevancy quoted above. It goes on to state that the pursuers criticise the products as having

the following defects:

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1. They are made from polypropylene which is not a suitable substance for a

permanent prosthetic implant in the highly sensitive vaginal region, which cannot

be completely sterilised, because (1) the pores are too small; (2) it is heavy weight

mesh; (3) it degrades over time; (4) it causes chronic foreign body reactions, fibrotic

bridging, mesh contracture/shrinkage, fraying, particle loss, sharp edges, roping and

curling of the mesh; (5) it deforms; (6) it is cytotoxic; and (7) the pores collapse with

tension.

2. These features mean the products are likely to cause mesh erosion, mesh

contractions, infection, fistula, inflammation, scar tissue, organ perforation,

dyspareunia, blood loss, neuropathic and other acute and chronic nerve damage and

pain, pudendal nerve damage, pelvic floor damage, pelvic pain, urinary and faecal

incontinence and prolapse of organs.

3. Once implanted, the products are difficult and sometimes impossible to remove.

4. The products were supplied with inadequate warnings of the foregoing problems.

[108] The test of what amounts to a “defect” in terms of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 is

unclear; see Miller, Medicinal Product Liability and Regulation (2013), pp 19-37; Wilkes v Depuy

[2016] 3 All ER 589 and contrast the approach taken there with A v National Blood Authority

[2001] 3 All ER 289. Even on the narrower approach taken in Wilkes, the judge was clear that a

holistic approach was required, taking account of all of the relevant facts and circumstances;

Wilkes paragraph 78.

[109] These allegations are common to all of the claims. More importantly, these allegations

are common to claims made across the world, many of which have already been upheld; see

Huskey v Ethicon United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia dated

19 August 2015. The test to be applied in such circumstances is set out at II A of the judgment

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in Huskey. It is essentially the same as that applied by the courts in Scotland at the stage of a

debate on relevancy. The judge dealt with all of the issues raised by the manufacturers in the

current debate. He held that the evidence on the defective design claim is particularly strong.

His reasoning is instructive and unimpeachable, both in relation to defect and causation. Even

if this court does not agree with his reasoning it is significant that he deals with all of the

questions of specification raised by the manufacturers in the present cases. There was also a

group action against Ethicon in the Federal Court in Australia.

[110] In relation to the question of warnings, it is an essential requirement of any medical

treatment that the patient has a proper understanding of the risks involved in order that they

can provide fully informed consent. This requires the manufacturer to provide full information

and then for the treating doctor to pass that information on. In the present cases, there is a

failure in both respects. It is difficult for the pursuers to be precise about where the

communication breakdown has occurred because none of the treating doctors has provided a

statement or precognition facilities, despite being furnished with a list of questions by the

pursuers.

[111] In oral submission I understood Mr Milligan to accept the submission of Mr Currie

which rested on Wilkes.

Discussion

[112] While the pursuers made written submissions on the issue of relevancy they have not

responded to the detailed analysis and criticisms of the pleadings outlined by the

manufacturers and summarised above. That is unfortunate as it has made my task more

difficult. Indeed the note of argument as to the alleged defects in the product is clearer than the

pleadings. So far as the reference to Huskey is concerned I treat that with caution given that it is

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dealing with an American statute though it is clear that many of the issues raised in these

actions are dealt with in the American case.

[113] At this stage I consider that there are two questions for me to answer. First, are the

pursuers bound to fail even if all of the averments on record are proved? Secondly, are the

manufacturer defenders prejudiced by the lack of specification of a material nature?

[114] A defect is defined by reference to its safety. There is a defect “if the safety of the

product is not such as persons generally are entitled to expect” (section 3(1)). Section 3(2)

prescribes that in determining what persons generally are entitled to expect all of the

circumstances are to be taken into account. I accept Mr Currie’s submission that the use of the

word “shall” makes it mandatory. There is then specification of three particular circumstances

but I do not read these as exclusive. They are I think matters which must be taken into account

along with any other relevant considerations; Wilkes, paragraph 77. What may be relevant will

depend on the circumstances. As Hickinbottom J makes clear what is required is a holistic

approach; paragraph 78.

[115] There must of course be some limits to the inquiry that a court embarks on in assessing

whether there is a defect in terms of section 3(1). But at this stage the court should be wary of

prescribing what may or may not be relevant, along with the circumstances narrated in

section 3(2)(a), (b) and (c). Indeed as is pointed out in Wilkes (paragraph 78) what may or may

not be relevant has been the issue of some debate. What may be relevant can only be addressed

after proof when the court can make a proper assessment of the particular factor and the weight

to be given to it.

[116] It is not necessary for the pursuers to show the cause of the lack of safety. If the product

is not as safe as persons generally are entitled to expect then there is a defect for the purposes of

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the Act whether or not the cause of the lack of safety has been proved. It is an objective test but

a relative concept.

[117] The unifying feature of these cases is said to be the use of polypropylene. All the

pleadings include the following averments:

“Polypropylene is not a suitable substance for a permanent prosthetic implant in the

pelvic region because: (1) the pores are too small; (2) it is heavy weight mesh; (3) it

degrades over time; (4) it causes chronic foreign body reactions, fibrotic bridging, mesh

contracture/shrinkage, fraying, particle loss, sharp edges, roping and curling of the

mesh; (5) it deforms; (6) it is cytotoxic; and (7) the pores collapse with tension.”

[118] In EN the pleadings continue:

“Transvaginal implantation carries a high risk of infection because the vagina cannot be

sterilised. Polypropylene mesh becomes so firmly incorporated into body tissue that it

is impossible to remove totally in the event that it causes problems.

A study by Iakovlev, Mekel and Blaivas of explanted polypropylene monofilament

transvaginal slings received between 2010 and 2014 concluded that “all specimens

showed chronic and foreign body inflammation (which is not seen in mature scar from

non-mesh surgeries), nerve ingrowth and mesh degradation. The findings suggest

mesh is not inert, but rather degrades and elicits a continuous immune response. The

compartmentalizing nature of the meshes and nerve ingrowth might create a

background for the pain mechanisms. Polypropylene degradation needs to be studied

further for its role in inflammation, mesh hardening and late deformation as well for

(sic) the properties of chemical degradation products. This preliminary analysis also

suggests that edge curling of the tapes contributes to mucosal exposure.”

Similar, though not as extensive, averments can be seen in the other cases. However, while

polypropylene is the starting point and the defining feature of these products it is not necessary

to show a causal link between the use of polypropylene and the damage; the causal link is

between the defect and the damage. Nevertheless there are in my opinion sufficient averments

of a causal link between the use of polypropylene and the alleged damage to allow the cases to

proceed to a proof before answer.

[119] The defenders submit that in each case the link between the damage which is averred on

record and the defect is not sufficiently established and that the pursuers, for the most part,

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simply narrate all the problems which they have experienced since the operation without

bringing home which particular problem is linked to the defect. At this stage I do not think that

is an issue. In the first place section 2(1) of the Act provides that the damage may be caused

wholly or partly by the defect. Accordingly the pursuers do not have to prove that all of the

problems they have encountered are necessarily the result of a defect. Secondly it is a matter

for proof as to what damage, if any, has been caused by the defect assuming that is established.

I do not consider that the defenders have been prejudiced by not having greater specification on

this point. In any event the defenders have, in each case, had the pursuer medically examined

and will no doubt have a report on their condition.

[120] The manufacturers submit that the pursuers have not recognised that a product may

have side effects or risks of complications yet still be safe. Yet it was unclear to me what exactly

was expected of the pursuers. There is in any event a comparison between the products and

other procedures. In YT for example the pursuer avers in Condescendence 22 that these

products create risks to the health and safety of the patients that are far more significant and

devastating as persons generally are entitled to expect.

[121] One of the prescribed circumstances is “the manner in which, and purposes for which,

the product has been marketed, its get-up, the use of any mark in relation to the product and

any instructions for, or warnings with respect to, doing or refraining from doing anything with

or in relation to the product”; section 3(2)(a). Mr Currie submitted that would include the

IFU’s. I agree. He also submitted that the failure by the pursuers to make relevant pleadings

about the IFU’s meant that the pursuers’ cases in AH and SR were irrelevant.

[122] There is a degree of confusion about the IFU’s in the pleadings. In AH reference is

made to the IFU issued by the manufacturers in the case against Dr Perera. It is said that the

IFU listed the adverse reactions associated with Gynecare PROLIFT but failed to communicate

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these to the pursuer. It does not appear as part of the case against the manufacturer. There is

no reference to the IFU in the pursuer’s pleadings in SR, YT or EN.

[123] I do not accept that failure to mention the IFU’s or other marketing material in the

pleadings is fatal to the pursuers’ cases for the following reasons. In the first place it is the

manufacturers who know how the products were marketed and it is primarily for them to put

the marketing material at issue. It is they who have access to the material not the pursuers. In

YT in Answer 6 Cousin Biotech call on the pursuer to produce copies of all the marketing

material on which she relies. It is of course for the pursuer to plead her case but the days in

which a defender could sit back and call on the pursuer to produce material which is in their

hands have long gone, if they ever existed.

[124] Secondly, in any event the issue of warnings is contained in the pursuers’ pleadings in

all the actions. The general tenor is that they were inadequate. The manufacturers question

whether these warnings, or lack of them, are part of the defect relied on by the pursuers. But

their relevance in establishing whether there is a defect is clear from the terms of section 3(2)(a)

as the manufactures have themselves pointed out.

[125] It is of relevance that there is a learned intermediary in the shape of the treating doctors.

There is no relationship between the manufacturer and the pursuer. I do not accept however

that the pursuers do not address that issue. The position of the doctors is central to their cases.

Part of the complaint against the manufacturers is a lack of appropriate warnings to the

clinicians. In any event the court in determining whether there is a defect will have to address

the presence of the treating doctor in the chain. It is not however a complete or automatic

defence; Wilkes paragraph 108. It is merely another, though possibly important, circumstance.

[126] Another circumstance is the time when the product was supplied by its producer

(section 3(2)(c)). The manufacturers have pointed to the number of articles relied on by the

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pursuers in the pleadings that postdate the supply of the product and submit that reference to

these articles is irrelevant. It is unsatisfactory that the pursuers have simply made generic

averments about articles that clearly postdate supply without further demonstrating their

significance. However at this stage I am not satisfied that reference to articles that postdate

supply are necessarily irrelevant if they are able to demonstrate a defect which existed at the

time of supply.

[127] The pursuers do not have to demonstrate the manufacturers’ state of knowledge. The

manufacturers have available a defence under section 4(1)(e) in the following terms:

“that the state of scientific and technical knowledge at the relevant time was not such

that a producer of products of the same description as the product in question might be

expected to have discovered the defect if it had existed in his products while they were

under his control.”

The relevant time must be the time that the product was supplied. Accordingly the

manufacturers have the ability to lead evidence about the state of knowledge at the time of the

supply as a defence. I reject the argument that the ability to lead such a defence is impaired by

the quality of the pursuers’ pleadings. The manufacturers know the date of supply and the

state of knowledge at the relevant time. It is open to them to lead such evidence should they so

wish.

[128] I have addressed the issue of causation in respect of assumption of risk under reference

to the common law case against the doctors. The same considerations apply to the cases against

the manufacturers and I adopt the reasoning there; I consider that this is a matter for proof.

[129] The pursuers’ pleadings are not without difficulty. In particular in only one case have

the pursuers made reference to the IFU though it is clear that it is a central feature of the factual

matrix which the court will have to deal with. However the IFU’s are clearly within the

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knowledge of the defenders and it is at this stage difficult to see how they would be prejudiced

if appropriate amendments were made.

General specification points

[130] All of the manufacturers have taken individual points of specification in respect of the

pleadings in the individual cases. In general I am happy to accede to Mr Currie’s suggestion

that these be dealt with at the By Order hearing. Nevertheless there are a number of common

themes and it might be helpful if I give my general views on these matters.

[131] In AH and SR the defenders (Johnson & Johnson) submit that averments regarding

other vaginal mesh products marketed by the defenders are irrelevant. The pursuers submit

that it is important to consider this product in the context of what else was available on the

market. The pursuer identifies the risks associated with polypropylene which are applicable to

all pelvic mesh cases.

[132] This is a lead case in a mass litigation. For the purposes of these cases the only product

at issue is the one which the pursuer had implanted into her. No doubt other cases will deal

with other products and in the course of a proof with a representative sample these other

products will be dealt with. Accordingly while the relevance to these cases is questionable it

may arise in other cases.

[133] The pursuers plead that the pore size of the mesh is too small. The defenders complain

that they are entitled to notice as to the relevance of this point. The pursuers point out that in

the case of Huskey v Ethicon Ltd Dr Guelcher, who is the pursuer’s expert in this case, gave

evidence that minimising the amount of polypropylene could reduce the foreign body reaction.

One way of doing that is to increase the pore size. I agree with the pursuers that sufficient

notice has been given of the evidence and its relevance.

Page 53 ⇓

[134] The defenders submit that averments to the effect that the manufacturers marketed the

products without designing a safe and effective procedure for removal are irrelevant. These

averments are not apparently founded on for the purposes of any of the pursuer’s cases based

on section 3 of the 1987 Act. There are no averments that would enable any of the pursuers to

prove a causal link between the alleged injury in respect of which she sues and the fact that the

manufacturers marketed the product without designing a safe and effective procedure for

removal.

[135] The pursuers respond that these averments are relevant insofar as they relate to factors

to be considered under section 3 of the 1987 Act and that these matters require consideration

only after evidence at proof in determining whether there is a defect taking in to account “all the

circumstances.” Wilkes (para 60 and 61).

[136] I consider that the pursuers may have a point. I note that section 3 requires all the

circumstances to be taken into account and it may be after proof that this is one such factor. I

note that in AH, for example it is said that the removal of the mesh is the only treatment that

has a chance of resolving any of the pursuer’s symptoms (article 20).

[137] The manufacturers submit that averments to the effect that they failed to advise

physicians how to “tension” the product properly are irrelevant. The pursuers further aver that

the manufacturers failed to advise physicians that if the product is not properly tensioned the

pore size of the mesh is decreased which interferes with incorporation into body tissue. These

averments are not founded on for the purposes of the claims based on section 3 of the 1987 Act.

There are no averments that would enable the pursuers to prove a causal link with any injury.

[138] The pursuers respond that the manufacturers are aware that there are no instructions

provided on how to tension their product properly. It is submitted that these averments are

relevant for the same reasons as the averments regarding the removal of the mesh.

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[139] On this matter I consider that the submissions of the defenders are well founded. It is

not sufficient to say that this is a matter that can be dealt with after proof. Although there are

references to the condition of the mesh in some of the pursuers following the operation in no

case is it suggested that any of the pursuer’s problems are as a result of a failure by any of the

treating doctors to properly tension the mesh product and that such a failure was due to

inadequate instructions. I consider these averments irrelevant and will not allow them to go to

probation.

[140] There is a general complaint that the pursuers make serious allegations which lack

essential specification either by specific averment or supporting documents. An example given

is that the manufacturers have known of serious risks and defects since at least 1998.

[141] I am not sure where the date of 1998 comes from. I note that in relation to the case of YT

Mr Smith made a motion at the bar to delete a similar averment which I granted. Without

further specification it looks irrelevant. I am not clear why it is still in place in the other cases.

So far as the pursuers’ averments that the products had serious risks and defects are concerned

the pursuers maintain that this is a matter for proof. In my view this is hyperbole. The product

either has a defect or it does not. If it does have a defect and a causal link can be established it

matters not whether it is characterised as serious.

[142] The defenders contend that averments regarding “injuries, conditions and

complications suffered due to Pelvic Mesh Products” are irrelevant, in failing to provide any

connection between the particular product and any loss alleged to have been sustained by the

individual pursuer. They submit that the averments “women [who] have undergone intensive

medical treatment, including but not limited to operations to locate and remove mesh. Women

have required operations to repair pelvic organs. They have suffered tissue and nerve

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damage.” are prejudicial and irrelevant. The pursuers do not aver that they have had to

undergo any such treatment or suffered tissue and nerve damage.

[143] The pursuers respond that these general averments are illustrative and support the

pursuers’ contention that pelvic mesh products are not safe for permanent implantation and are

defective. In any event, some of the pursuers aver that they have had to undergo surgery to

remove some of the mesh product and may require further surgery.

[144] I am prepared to allow these averments to go to probation. Although the issue in the

individual cases relates to one product the complaint that is made by the pursuers is that the

use of polypropylene is inappropriate. That is common to all the pelvic mesh products which

are the subject of these litigations. In determining whether or not this product has a defect the

risk benefit of the product will be an issue; Wilkes paragraph 65. In that analysis the fact that

other women using similar products made from the same material suffered injury may be

relevant.

[145] Each of the pursuers aver that:

“In 2015 Professor Carl Heneghan produced a fake report for Jet Schouten, a journalist

with Dutch consumer television programme Radar, seeking approval for netting used as

a surgical aid. The netting was that used to carry oranges, and it was approved”

The defenders submit that this is wholly irrelevant. The pursuers contend that this averment

shows the weakness of the regulatory regime in the UK and Europe.

[146] In my opinion this averment is irrelevant. It invites a proof on the manner in which this

fake report was carried out, what product it related to and what precisely it showed. It is

frankly collateral to the central issue as to whether the product was defective. The fact that the

product had a CE marking is a factor, but only a factor, to be taken into account. It is not an

automatic defence; Wilkes paragraph 101.

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[147] I shall deal with any other points of specification that I may have missed or arise out this

opinion at the By Order hearing.

Chapter 5: Time bar

[148] All the defenders, both doctors and manufacturers, have taken time bar pleas. All

except Mr Ellis who appeared for Astoria Women’s Health LLC in the EN case argued these

pleas at procedure roll. Mr Ellis reserved his plea.

[149] The pursuers resist these pleas but submit that even if the triennium has expired it

would be equitable for the court to allow the actions to proceed, in the actions against the

doctors in terms of section 19A of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, and in

the actions against the manufacturers in terms of section 22B(6) of that Act.

Factual background

[150] The defenders aver that the action is time barred. They aver that by October or

November 2009 at the latest (when the pursuer had an operation for the excision of the mesh)

the pursuer had the requisite knowledge and knew that the injuries were serious enough to

justify bringing an action for damages. The action was raised in about February 2014. The

pursuer says that she first made the connection between her symptoms and the vaginal mesh

when she read an article concerning the use of mesh or tape in the Sunday Mail in March 2013.

She says that at no time prior to that date was she informed that her symptoms could be related

to the product implanted in the operation.

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[151] The action in this case was raised in February 2015. The second defenders (the Health

Board) aver in answer 23 that she should have been aware by, at the latest 1 June 2010 when she

underwent the first excision procedure of the required facts. The pursuer says that she had no

reason to believe that the symptoms were in consequence of the mesh implant prior to reading

an article online in the Huffington Post, dated 11 March 2014. Up until then she had been

consistently advised by her treating doctors that her symptoms were not attributable to the

mesh implant and that her difficulties were psychological.

[152] The action was raised in about July 2014. The defenders aver that the pursuer had the

requisite knowledge shortly after having the surgery. The pursuer says that she did not

appreciate that it was the mesh that was the cause of her difficulties until the surgery to

partially remove the mesh on 11 May 2014. Up until then she had been repeatedly assured that

the problems were not related to the mesh implant.

[153] The summons in this action was served on 7 May 2014. The defenders aver that the

action is time barred. EN says that she was not aware that she may have a cause of action until

she read an article in a newspaper concerning the use of mesh and tape at the end of

March 2013. She was advised by doctors that her symptoms were as a result of irritable bowel

syndrome.

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Statutory background

[154] Section 17 of the 1973 Act is in the following terms:

“(1) This section applies to an action of damages where the damages claimed consist of

or include damages in respect of personal injuries, being an action (other than an action

to which section 18 of this Act applies) brought by the person who sustained the injuries

or any other person.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below and section 19A of this Act, no action to which this

section applies shall be brought unless it is commenced within a period of 3 years

after—

(a) the date on which the injuries were sustained or, where the act or omission to

which the injuries were attributable was a continuing one, that date or the date

on which the act or omission ceased, whichever is the later; or

(b) the date (if later than any date mentioned in paragraph (a) above) on which

the pursuer in the action became, or on which, in the opinion of the court, it

would have been reasonably practicable for him in all the circumstances to

become, aware of all the following facts—

(i) that the injuries in question were sufficiently serious to justify his

bringing an action of damages on the assumption that the person against

whom the action was brought did not dispute liability and was able to

satisfy a decree;

(ii) that the injuries were attributable in whole or in part to an act or

omission; and

(iii) that the defender was a person to whose act or omission the injuries

were attributable in whole or in part or the employer or principal of such

a person.

Section 19A (1)

(1) Where a person would be entitled, but for any of the provisions of section

17 , 18 , 18A or 18B of this Act, to bring an action, the court may, if it seems

to it equitable to do so, allow him to bring the action notwithstanding that

provision.

Section 22B

(1) This section shall apply to an action to enforce an obligation arising from

liability under section 2 of the 1987 Act (to make reparation for damage caused

wholly or partly by a defect in a product), except where section 22C of this Act

applies.

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(2) Subject to subsection (4) below, an action to which this section applies shall not be

competent unless it is commenced within the period of 3 years after the earliest date on

which the person seeking to bring (or a person who could at an earlier date have

brought) the action was aware, or on which, in the opinion of the court, it was

reasonably practicable for him in all the circumstances to become aware, of all the facts

mentioned in subsection (3) below.

(3) The facts referred to in subsection (2) above are—

(a) that there was a defect in a product;

(b) that the damage was caused or partly caused by the defect;

person referred to in subsection (2) above) in bringing an action to which this

section applies on the assumption that the defender did not dispute liability and

was able to satisfy a decree;

(d) that the defender was a person liable for the damage under the said section 2.

(4) In the computation of the period of 3 years mentioned in subsection (2) above, there

shall be disregarded any period during which the person seeking to bring the action

was under legal disability by reason of nonage or unsoundness of mind.

(5) The facts mentioned in subsection (3) above do not include knowledge of whether

particular facts and circumstances would or would not, as a matter of law, result in

liability for damage under the said section 2.

(6) Where a person would be entitled, but for this section, to bring an action for

reparation other than one in which the damages claimed are confined to damages for

loss of or damage to property, the court may, if it seems to it equitable to do so, allow

him to bring the action notwithstanding this section.”

Submissions for the parties

Submissions for the defenders

[155] Mr Primrose began his submissions by referring to the policy behind limitation statutes.

This is discussed comprehensively by Lord Drummond Young in B v Murray (No 2) 2005 SLT

citing the judgement delivered by McHugh J in the High Court of Australia; Brisbane South

Regional Health Authority v Taylor 186 CLR 541. As time goes by evidence is likely to be lost.

The loss of evidence may be an actual loss, for example where a crucial witness dies or a

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document is lost or it may be a decline in the quality of evidence available. The limitation

period should not be seen as an arbitrary cut off point unrelated to the demands of justice or the

general welfare of society. It represents rather the considered judgement of the legislature that

the welfare of society is best served if causes of action are litigated within the specified time

period, even if in consequence good causes of action may be defeated. It must accordingly be

regarded as the general rule and the extension provision as an exception designed to deal with

the justice of individual cases. Two important conclusions flow from this analysis: (a) the onus

is on the prospective pursuer to establish that his or her case requires an extension and (b) in

determining whether an extension should be granted, the court must evaluate the injustice or

prejudice that either side may suffer by a reference to the rationales which underlie the

limitation statute. An extension period, such as section 19A of the 1973 Act, reimposes a

liability that the defender would otherwise have escaped. Because of that it is not material that

the prejudice suffered by the defender is no worse than would have been the case had the

action been raised towards the end of the limitation period. If a defender can show actual

prejudice in defending the action or the real possibility of significant prejudice, it will normally

not be appropriate to grant an extension.

[156] Fundamentally the pursuers’ cases against the doctors are founded on an alleged failure

to properly convey adequate information prior to their operations. In each case the pursuer

contends that, had it been, she would not have agreed to the surgery proceeding as it did and

that she would not have suffered the losses condescended upon. It is inherent in each of the

cases that the breach of duty that is complained of is more than three years before the action

was raised.

[157] In determining whether the action is barred by the passage of time three questions arise.

First, when did the pursuer suffer the loss she now complains of? The answer to that question

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will identify the presumptive start date of the triennium. Secondly, was the action commenced

within the triennium? Thirdly, if not, is it equitable to relieve the pursuer of the consequences

of limitation?

[158] The injuria was the failure to provide the proper information during the consent process.

The damnum was the materialisation of the risks that it is said should have been warned of but,

of which, she was not warned. There are two possible starting dates for the triennium: The

date on which the injuries were sustained (section 17(2)(a)) or the date on which the pursuer

became aware or on which it would have become reasonably practicable for her in all the

circumstances to be aware of the following facts enumerated in section 17(2(b). Mr Primrose

submitted that for the purposes of section 17(2)(b), knowledge that any act or omission was or

was not, as a matter of law, actionable, is irrelevant section 22(3) of the 1973 Act; Johnston,

Prescription and Limitation 2nd ed, paragraphs 10.36 – 10.37 and McIntyre v Armitage Shanks 1980

SC (HL) 46. Lack of awareness of actionability does not delay the start of the triennium.

Whether an injury is sufficiently serious to justify raising proceedings is judged objectively: CG

v Glasgow City Council [2011] SC 1 at paragraphs 18 and 21. Injuries which are not de minimis

are sufficiently serious to justify bringing proceedings; Mackie v Currie 1991 SLT 407 at 409.

The expression “attributable to” in section 17(2)(b)(ii) does not mean “caused by”. Nor does it

imply that before time starts to run the pursuer must have actual or constructive knowledge

that the injuries are in fact attributable to the defenders’ acts or omissions. It is enough that he

has knowledge that they are capable of being attributed to them; Johnston, Prescription and

Limitation at paragraph 10.57. In Haward v Fawcetts (a firm) [2006] 1 WLR 682 the House of

Lords explained that the knowledge necessary in this context is knowledge in broad terms of

the facts on which the claimant’s complaint is based, of the defendant’s acts or omissions, and

that there is a real possibility that those acts or omissions were a cause of the claimant’s loss

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(see paragraph 90). The threshold of awareness is relatively modest. This is because the point

of section 7(2)(b) is simply to fix the starting date for the limitation period, after which the

pursuer has three years to carry out the necessary investigations; Johnston, Prescription and

Limitation paragraph 10-24. The pursuer need not have knowledge of details that would be

necessary to raise an action; Murray v National Association of Round Tables 2002 SLT 204 at

paragraph 13. Where the pursuer has knowledge of the facts the question is whether that

knowledge is sufficiently firm to make it reasonable for her to investigate whether there is a

case against the defender, see: Johnston, paragraph 10-25. Reasonable practicability is not to be

confused with reasonable excuse; M v O’Neil 2006 SLT 823 per Lord Glennie at paragraph 36;

Agnew v Scott Lithgow (No. 2) 2003 SC 448. The pursuer’s personal characteristics (eg

embarrassment, reluctance or unwillingness to take action) are irrelevant; the question is

objective and concerns the practicality of finding out. The pursuer’s losses cannot be separated

out so as to postpone the commencement of the triennium for particular injuries; Aitchison v

Glasgow City Council 2010 SC 411 at paragraphs 34 to 41. The proper approach to constructive

awareness is to consider the matter in three stages. First, what did the pursuer actually know?

This is subjective. Secondly, what other facts would it have been reasonably practicable for her

to know? Thirdly, taken together, did she know enough to investigate whether she had a claim

against the defender? Mr Primrose referred to A v Hoare [2008] 1 AC 844 at paragraph 34. The

salient question was formulated by Lord Glennie in M v O’Neil at paragraph 57 as follows:

“The question to be asked is whether at some time more than three years before

proceedings were commenced….the pursuer was aware of the statutory facts, or, if not,

whether it was reasonably practicable for the pursuer to have become aware of those

facts by that time”

[159] Mr Stephenson adopted the submissions made by Mr Primrose in respect of the case

against Dr Milne.

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[160] The note of argument for Johnson & Johnson submitted that absent specification of the

alleged defect in the products, it is impossible to interrogate whether the pursuer can relevantly

invoke the saving provisions on actions for personal injuries in section 17(2)(b) or section 22B(3)

of the 1973 Act. Recital of the statutory facts does not relevantly invoke either section 17(2)(b)

or section 22B(3). The pursuers in both AH and SR aver that they were not aware that the

product was the cause of their symptoms and that they had a cause in action until they had

each read a newspaper article. However, neither section 17(2)(b) nor section 22B(3) requires

actual awareness. The test is whether the pursuer was aware or it was reasonably practicable

for her to have become aware of the statutory facts, not of actionability. Indeed the Act

specifies that awareness of actionability is irrelevant (sections 22(3) and 22B(5)). The pursuers

require to aver why they could not, with reasonable practicality, have been aware of the

statutory facts. In both cases the pursuer must have known that there was a real possibility

that her injuries had been caused by the product; Haward v Fawcetts (a firm) at paragraph 90;

Nash v Eli Lilly & Co [1993] 1 WLR 782).

[161] Ms Haldane adopted Mr Primrose’s submissions in respect of sections 17 and 19A of the

1973 Act and Mr Currie’s submissions on section 22B.

Pursuers’ response

[162] The purpose of limitation is primarily to prevent stale claims. There are obvious policy

reasons for such a rule, most importantly to avoid prejudice to defenders in investigating

claims; AS v Poor Sisters of Nazareth 2008 SC(HL) 146 at paragraph 25. Where, however, the

defenders are already investigating events for a whole series of other claims raising the same

issues then that prejudice disappears. This consideration is most obviously relevant to the

exercise of the court’s discretion in terms of section 19A but it also impacts on the operation of

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section 17 of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. The questions of what could

have been known when and by whom are inextricably bound up with the merits of these

claims. It is not possible for the court to say at this stage that it was reasonably practicable for

the pursuers to know the necessary facts to raise a claim more than three years before the

actions were raised. The date of actual knowledge is important and more readily ascertainable

but the date of constructive knowledge is far more nebulous. The reality of the situation is that

no solicitor in Scotland would have taken on the claims at an earlier date. The defenders – both

manufacturers and doctors – have continued to maintain that there was nothing wrong with the

product and it is difficult to ascertain at what stage any reasonable person would have felt able

to seek legal advice in contradiction of that advice. Accordingly the pursuers submit that in all

four cases the timebar pleas should be reserved at this stage. Applying the strict test of

relevancy, it cannot be said that the pursuers will fail in their pleas if all of their averments are

upheld.

[163] Mr Milligan submitted that a general feature of the pleadings was that the treating

doctors, far from making the link between the pelvic mesh product and the injury suffered by

the pursuers, specifically denied that such a link existed. In that event it could not be said that

the pursuers had the relevant knowledge. In his submission the date on which the pursuers

had the relevant knowledge was the date on which they became aware of the facts through the

media. Knowledge involved a degree of certainty. For these purposes it was that which a

particular pursuer would regard as sufficient to justify embarking upon the preliminaries to the

making of a claim for compensation, such as taking legal advice. That would depend on the

nature of the information received, the extent to which the pursuer paid attention to it and her

capacity to understand it; Nash v Eli Lilly & Co, at p 792. These were subjective matters which

could not be assessed on the pleadings alone. This was particularly true in the context of a case

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where the background information is particularly confusing and conflicting. The position of

the defenders amounted to one where every operation that did not go to plan would potentially

give rise to a medical negligence claim. That was absurd. The claim against the manufacturers

could not be progressed without expert advice. Until that was available there could not be a

claim; Nash, p 799. Merely because the mesh had been excised did not mean that those

pursuers would be put on notice that there was a defect in the product.

[164] Turning to section 19A Mr Milligan submitted that the claim against the manufacturers

was a strong one given the success rate in the United States. That was a relevant factor; Nash

pp 804 and 808. So too was the fact that the manufacturers had defended claims in the United

States. They could not be said to be prejudiced; Nash p 805.

Discussion of the applicable law - sections 17 and 22B

[165] The pursuers have withdrawn the common law case against the manufacturers.

Accordingly the cases against the doctors and the manufacturers require to be considered

under different provisions of the 1973 Act. That said the approach should be consistent. So for

example the significance of the injury to the pursuer should not depend on whether or not the

case falls to be dealt with under section 17(2)(b)(i) or section 22B(3)(c).

[166] The defenders approach the position of the significance of the injury as an objective one

citing the opinion of the court delivered by Lord Eassie in CG v Glasgow City Council in which

the Extra Division affirmed the decision of the First Division in AS v Poor Sisters of Nazareth.

Paragraph 26 of AS is in the following terms:

“Whether the likely amount of damages would justify taking proceedings no doubt

involves some element of judgment, particularly in marginal cases…It will also be the

case that, as was observed in Carnegie v Lord Advocate (per Lord Johnston, p 812, para

16), some subjective, or perhaps more properly, individual personal features may enter

into the assessment of quantum in that, by way of further exemplification of the

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instances mentioned by Lord Johnston, injury to a finger may be of much greater

consequence to a concert pianist than to someone whose work and hobbies do not

involve fine finger movements. But subject to those observations we consider that the

statute can only be construed as intending sub-head (i) to be concerned with quantum,

an objective assessment having to be made whether the gravity of the injury to the

pursuer in question was such that it would have justified proceedings on the statutory

assumptions of undisputed liability and a solvent defender. The sub-head is concerned

with a single fact, namely the severity of the injury in so far as the pursuer was aware of

it or could reasonably practicably have become aware of it.”

The Extra Division in CG noted that this approach was consistent to the position in England

under reference to the speech of Lord Hoffman in the House of Lords in A v Hoare at

paragraph 34:

“I respectfully think that the notion of the test being partly objective and partly

subjective is somewhat confusing. Section 14(2) is a test for what counts as a significant

injury. The material to which that test applies is generally subjective in the sense that it

is applied to what the claimant knows of his injury rather than the injury as it actually

was. Even then, his knowledge may have to be supplemented with imputed objective

knowledge under section 14(3). But the test itself is an entirely impersonal standard: not

whether the claimant himself would have considered the injury sufficiently serious to

justify proceedings but whether he would reasonably have done so. You ask what the

claimant knew about the injury he had suffered, you add any knowledge about the

injury which may be imputed to him under section 14(3) and you then ask whether a

reasonable person with that knowledge would have considered the injury sufficiently

serious to justify his instituting proceedings for damages against a defendant who did

not dispute liability and was able to satisfy a judgment.”

[167] Mr Milligan relies on the English Court of Appeal case of Nash v Eli Lilly to argue that

the test is a subjective one citing the passage at page 792:

“whether or not a state of mind for this purpose is properly to be treated as knowledge

seems to us to depend, in the first place, upon the nature of the information which the

plaintiff has received, the extent to which he pays attention to the information as

affecting him, and his capacity to understand it.”

He submits that there are parallels between Nash and this case. In Nash v Eli Lilly the court was

concerned with claims against a drug company arising from the use by the claimants of the

drug Opren. The court noted that the provisions of section 14(3) of the Limitation Act 1980

were particularly relevant to the individual plaintiff’s appreciation of his or her own condition

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in relation to the question as to whether the effects from which he was suffering were

acceptable side effects which can be expected from the use of any toxic drug or whether they

have reached the intensity and persistence to be recognised as unacceptable and therefore

significant injury; Purchas LJ at 799, 800.

[168] While this argument may be attractive it does not accord with the approach in Scotland.

Nor is it consistent with the later English cases of A v Hoare and B v Ministry of Defence [2013] 1

AC 78 (a case not cited to me). In B v Ministry of Defence Lord Walker of Gestingthorpe, giving

one of the majority judgements noted that there was a decisive shift away from the subjective

approach. He said the notion “whether a claimant has knowledge depends both upon the

information he has received and upon what he makes of it” expressed in Nash could no longer

be accepted, at any rate without a lot qualification. The policy was for the date of knowledge to

be ascertained in the same way for all claimants, without regard to their personal

characteristics, which can be taken into account at the later stage of exercising discretion under

section 33 of the 1980 Act; (paragraph 47).

[169] Accordingly the submissions of the defenders are to be preferred. Whether an injury is

sufficiently serious to justify bringing an action of damages is an objective test whether one is

looking at section 17(2)(b) or 22B(3).

[170] Turning to section 17(2)(b)(i) whether the injuries are attributable to an act or omission

will depend on the facts. Where there is a medical procedure it might naturally be expected

that one would experience pain and discomfort perhaps for some time after the event. The

extent of such pain and discomfort may also differ from one patient to another. In these cases

however the pursuers avers pain, discomfort and other symptoms which clearly go beyond the

normal. More importantly they go beyond what they had been told by the treating doctors that

they could expect to follow on the particular operation. Accordingly, if the injury is sufficiently

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serious to justify the raising of an action then it should be reasonably practicable for the pursuer

to be aware that the injury was attributable in whole or in part to an act or omission. At the

very least the pursuer is put on notice that something is wrong and that there is a disconnect

between what she has been told to expect and what has actually occurred. Accordingly I

consider that prima facie an act or omission as defined in section 17(2)(b) may be discerned from

looking at the difference between what the pursuer avers she was told about the risks and those

symptoms which she says materialised. If there is a material difference then it ought to be

reasonably practicable for the pursuer to appreciate that the injuries were attributable in whole

or in part to an act or omission. It is not necessary for the pursuer to know precisely what that

act or omission was. But it does form the starting point for the pursuer to make such

investigations as may be required to bring an action of damages. Of course the pursuer may set

out reasons why it was not practicable to be aware that the injuries were attributable to such an

act or omission. However in an action against a doctor for a breach of duty in failing to advise

of the risks associated with an operation it is not sufficient for her to say that she was never told

by the doctors that the injuries could be attributable to the mesh product. That is not the issue.

Something more is required. Liability for negligent advice does not depend on a defect in the

product. There may be no defect but a doctor may fail in his duty to give advice because he

failed to warn the patient of risks that he knew or should have known about. That is an

important observation because the pursuers in all but one of the cases aver that they were not

aware that their symptoms were associated with the mesh product until they read about it in a

newspaper or online. Again the pursuers conflate the cases against the doctors with those

against the manufacturer.

[171] Given that the name of the treating doctor was known to the pursuer in each case there

can be no issue about attributing the act or omission to the particular defender in each case.

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Application of section 17 to individual cases

[172] The operation took place on 19 February 2009. The pursuer avers that after the

operation, she experienced pelvic pain. She had a vaginal discharge. On 3 September, 2009, she

was reviewed and put on a waiting list for removal of protruding vaginal mesh. Excision of the

protruding mesh took place on 27 November, 2009, with release of the left arm of the mesh at

the obturator foramen (“the excision operation”). Following the excision operation, she

continued and continues to experience pelvic pain and vaginal discharge. Her prolapse has

recurred.

[173] On these averments it is clear that the pursuer had sustained the injury no later than

September 2009, when she was placed on the waiting list for the excision operation. That is the

presumptive start of the triennium. The issue then is whether the factors listed in

section 17(2)(b) of the 1973 Act can postpone the date to March 2013 when the pursuer read the

article in the Sunday Mail. The onus is on the pursuer.

[174] The pursuer’s engagement with the provisions of section 17(2)(b) is essentially

formulaic. In relation to (2)(b)(i) the pursuer avers that it was not reasonably practicable for her

to be aware “(d) that the damage was sufficiently serious to justify the pursuer in bringing an

action…” It is difficult to understand that averment given that the damage that the pursuer

was aware of in September 2009 is essentially the injuries for which she seeks compensation.

Without further explanation it is irrelevant.

[175] Turning to (2)(b)(ii) the pursuer’s position is that:

“prior to undergoing the excision operation, Dr Perera advised the pursuer that he was

going to loosen the tape because it was too tight and pulling her groin. She understood

this to mean that the sling was too tight and needed to be loosened. There was no

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discussion about mesh erosion. Dr Perera did not inform her that the mesh product

implanted in the operation had eroded. Accordingly, at the time that she underwent the

excision operation she did not understand that the product implanted in the operation

could be the cause of her symptoms. At no time since her operation in February 2009

was the pursuer informed that her symptoms could be related to the product implanted

in the operation. The pursuer first made the connection between her symptoms and the

implanted mesh product when she read an article concerning the use of mesh a tape in

the Sunday Mail on or about March 2013.”

[176] The first defender’s answers detail interactions between the GP and the pursuer which

appear to show an awareness by the pursuer that mesh was protruding into her vagina. If this

is so then it is difficult to understand how she could come to the view that the operation was to

“loosen the tape”. Nevertheless the pursuer’s position on record is that her awareness at the

time of the second operation was limited as she describes.

[177] Whatever the pursuer’s awareness what is beyond doubt is that she was suffering from

pain and vaginal discharge serious enough to require corrective surgery. It cannot be

suggested that this was not related to the mesh. Furthermore it was not something that she

could have been expected to follow from the mesh implant given the advice that she was given

on the risks associated with the operation. Indeed the problems went far beyond what she was

told were the risks associated with the product.

[178] For these reasons I am satisfied that the case against the first defender is time barred in

terms of section 17 of the 1973 Act.

[179] The surgery took place on 15 October 2009. The action was raised in February 2015.

The pursuer underwent the first corrective procedure to excise protruding mesh on 1 June 2010.

A second corrective procedure followed on 11 August 2010. It is clear that the pursuer

experienced pain and complications which went beyond what she could have expected given

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what she says she was told about the risks associated with the operation. The pursuer has not

engaged with the averments of the second defenders on time bar set out in answer 23. (There is

however a passing reference to section 19A in condescendence 24.) Accordingly it is clear on the

pursuer’s own averments that it was reasonably practicable for her to become aware of the facts

required in section 17(2)(b) by June 2010. That is the presumptive start of the triennium. There

is nothing in the pursuer’s averments that would postpone that date to a later time.

[180] I am satisfied that on the averments the case against the second defender is time barred

in terms of section 17 of the 1973 Act.

[181] The surgery took place on 23 September 2008. The summons was served on 30 July

2014. The second defender (Dr Milne) avers that she should have been aware of the necessary

facts shortly after her surgery in 2008. The pursuer’s position is that she was not aware that the

mesh was the cause of her difficulties until the mesh was excised on 12 May 2014. In answer to

the second defender’s answer, she avers, at condescendence 24:

“As the pursuer was not aware that her pain and discomfort were related to the mesh

inserted during her SUI surgery she was similarly unaware that the consent process she

had undergone with the second defender was negligent in that he had failed to advise

the pursuer of the risks associated with TVT mesh and available alternative treatments

as hereinbefore condescended upon. It was therefore not reasonably practicable for the

pursuer to be aware that (a) the consent process she had undergone with the second

defender was inadequate and negligent; (b) that the damage she had suffered was

caused by a surgical process which she not been correctly consented for….”

[182] On the pursuer’s pleadings it appears that apart from the pain and time off work

immediately after the operation she was problem free until about 2011/2012 when the SUI

returned. It was in 2013 that she began to experience further pain and other distressing

symptoms. Mr Stephenson submitted that the excruciating pain that she experienced after she

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came round from the operation, and which caused her to pass out, went beyond what could

have been expected from a normal operation. Equally it would be unexpected for a person

undergoing such an operation to be off work for a week or so after. Accordingly he submitted

that it was reasonably practicable for her to become aware shortly after the operation of the

necessary facts.

[183] Mr Stephenson may well be right. But in this case I am not convinced that the issue is

quite as clear cut as it is in the other cases. The pain that the pursuer experienced on coming

round from the operation was transitory in the sense that it eventually passed and she was pain

free for a number of years. I do not think that I can say on the pleadings either that this pain or

time off work was of such a nature that the court can be satisfied that it was reasonably

practicable for the pursuer to be aware that the injuries were attributable in whole or in part to

an act or omission.

[184] There may also be an argument that even if the immediate aftermath of the operation

might have prompted questions in the pursuer’s mind about whether there was a sufficiently

serious injury the subsequent resolution of the problem, until they came back sometime

between 2011 and 2013 has the effect of postponing the start date. At this stage I express no

view on that issue.

[185] For these reasons I am not satisfied that I can sustain a plea of time bar in respect of the

second defender at this stage. The issue should be resolved after proof.

[186] The summons was served in this action on 7 May 2014. The operation was on 24 June

2007. The relevant averments of fact can be found in condescendence 2 as follows:

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“Following the operation, the pursuer suffered from pain in her hips, legs, back,

abdomen, pelvis and vagina and down the lower right side of her body. She suffered

from a sensation of painful pulsing and pressure inside her vagina. Her incontinence

initially abated. The pain gradually began to subside. On or about June 2009, the

pursuer began to suffer from faecal incontinence and urgency. Around this time, her

symptoms of stress urinary incontinence had begun to gradually return. The pursuer

developed urinary urge incontinence and detrusor instability. The pursuer’s symptoms

of pain had also begun to gradually return. Following the surgery, the pursuer suffered

from difficulty in voiding her bladder. She required to strain to void her bladder. She

suffered from incomplete emptying of her bladder. She suffered from frequent urinary

tract infections. She required antibiotics. She developed from kidney stones. The

pursuer was advised by her treating Doctors that the problem with her bowel and faecal

incontinence was attributable to irritable bowel syndrome.”

Subsequently an ultrasound scan report of 23 May 2011 showed a smaller right kidney with

some upper pole cyst. On review in February 2012 her abdomen was soft with some mild

tenderness in the right loin. She has been advised to remain on prophylactic antibiotic long

term.

[187] It should be noted that on the pursuer’s averments she had been advised that it was

possible that the product once implanted might not be successful in alleviating her symptoms

of SUI. However she says that she was not told of the other risks including chronic pain and

de novo urinary incontinence. The question in this case is whether on the pleadings it is possible

to conclude that it was not reasonably practicable for her to have become aware that the

injuries, which were serious, were attributable in whole or in part to an act or omission?

[188] I am not satisfied that it is possible to come to that conclusion on the pleadings. So far

as the problems that occurred after June 2009 are concerned it may not have been apparent that

these were related to an act or omission rather than to natural causes. This view was reinforced

by the suggestion from the doctors that the faecal incontinence was caused by irritable bowel

syndrome. Immediately after the operation the pursuer did suffer from a range of symptoms

which on the face of it were not expected on the basis of the advice that she had been given.

But it is not entirely clear what the extent of these symptoms were and how long they lasted.

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They clearly subsided as did the SUI. To that extent at least the pursuer may have been

reassured that the operation was working. In contrast to the position in AH and SR the

symptoms were not immediately attributable to problems with the mesh. She did not require

to undergo any excision of the mesh. Some allowance should be given for the fact that there is

always likely to be a degree of pain and discomfort associated with an operation and the extent

of such post operational symptoms may differ from one person to another.

[189] Accordingly I have concluded that I cannot at this stage sustain a plea of time bar. It

should be held over to after proof.

Section 22B

[190] There are four factors to be addressed under section 22B(3). As I have indicated the

approach to 3(c) will be the same in both cases. I do not consider that there is an issue with

regard to (3)(d). Once the other factors are in place I think it should be reasonably practicable

to be aware of the identity of the defenders. The central issue in each case is when did the

pursuer become aware or when was it reasonably practicable for her to become aware that

there was a defect in the product? Unlike the case against the doctors where there was a clear

mismatch between what the doctors said to each of the pursuers and what subsequently

transpired, the fact that there was a defect in the product is less obvious. It is potentially

masked by the fact that the product is one used by an apparently experienced and competent

clinician. The products were approved for medical use. The doctors in each case told the

pursuer that their problems were not attributable to the product and gave a variety of

explanations. While it might be reasonably practicable for a pursuer to question the advice they

got or the treatment they received finding out that there is a defect in the product, particularly

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since it is now inside the body, is more difficult. Even if one embarks on an investigation it

requires technical skill and expertise.

[191] In this case it is clear that concern about these products has built up gradually over the

years. I am aware that there has been significant media interest welling over into the political

sphere. Against that background it seems to me to be quite a leap to say that it would have

been reasonably practicable shortly after the operation in each case for the pursuer to become

aware that there was defect in the product. I cannot reach that conclusion in respect of any of

the cases on a procedure roll debate.

[192] In the course of the debate I expressed the view that the time bar issue should be

resolved in a preliminary proof. On further consideration it appears to me that the issues in

respect of section 22B might only be resolved after a full proof. I invite further submissions on

this point.

Discussion of the applicable law: section 19A and section 22B(6)

[193] The same principles apply to section 22B(6) as apply to section 19A. The following

comments refer to both sections. The effect of section 19A is to reinstate a liability that has

otherwise expired. It is a discretionary remedy to avoid injustice. The provisions of

section 19A were considered in some detail by Lord Drummond Young in B v Murray (no 2).

He analysed the authorities and drew heavily on the judgement of McHugh J in the High Court

of Australia in Brisbane Regional Authority v Taylor. I do not consider it necessary for me to

engage in a similar exercise.

[194] At paragraph 21 His Lordship sets out McHugh J’s discussion of limitation statutes

generally. He notes four broad rationales for the enactment of limitation periods. First, as time

goes by evidence is likely to be lost. Second it is oppressive to a defendant to allow an action to

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be brought long after the circumstances that give rise to it have passed. Third, people should

be able to arrange their affairs and utilise their resources on the basis that claims can no longer

be made against them. Even where the cause of action relates to personal injuries it will often

be just as unfair to make the shareholders or taxpayers of today ultimately responsible for the

wrongs of the distant past. Fourth the public interest requires that disputes be settled as

quickly as possible.

[195] The principles which are pertinent to these cases are as follows. First, in multiple claims

of this sort the court must exercise its discretion separately in relation to each claim; B v

Murray, paragraph 33; Nash v Eli Lilly, per Purchas LJ 809 – 810. Second, the limitation period

should be seen as the general rule. Accordingly the onus is on the pursuer to demonstrate that

an extension should be granted; B v Murray, paragraph 25. Third, the question for the court is

to evaluate the prejudice that may be caused to either party by either a grant or a refusal of an

extension; paragraph 25. Another way of putting this may be to ask where the equities lie;

paragraph 29 quoting Forsyth v A F Stoddard & Co Ltd 1985 SLT 51, per Lord Justice Clerk at

p 55. Fourth, if a defender can show actual prejudice or the real possibility of significant

prejudice it will not normally be appropriate to grant an extension; paragraph 27. Fifth, the

conduct of the pursuer, and by extension her solicitor, since becoming aware of the

circumstances giving rise to the action are factors to be taken into account by the court;

paragraph 29. Sixth, in general ignorance of the legal right to claim damages is not to be taken

into account; see the discussion in paragraph 30.

[196] The pursuers assert that the cases against both the doctors and the manufacturers are

strong cases. Mr Milligan submitted that this was a relevant factor relying on Nash v Eli Lilly at

pages 804 and 808. In summary what Purchas LJ says at page 808 is that a defendant should

not be put to the trouble and expense of having to defend a poor claim with a low value which

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would reflect as much or more the risk in costs as the fair value of the claim. That is a different

to saying that it is a relevant factor that it is a strong case. In any event the pursuers in their

pleadings make no distinction between the position of the doctors and the manufacturers. The

case against the doctors is fact sensitive depending crucially on what may or may not have been

said many years ago. In those circumstances I cannot see how a court can begin to establish

that a claim against a doctor is a strong case. In oral submissions Mr Milligan made no attempt

to persuade me that any of the claims against a doctor was a strong one having regard to the

averments on record.

[197] A claimant has been successful in a jury trial in the United States against a

manufacturer, Ethicon Ltd who are part of the Johnson & Johnson group of companies; Huskey

v Ethicon Ltd. There is a reasoned judgement following on from the trial which will no doubt

give comfort to the pursuers in these actions. I am nevertheless reluctant to conclude on the

basis of that one action that there is a strong case against the manufacturers. For one thing the

statutory basis is different. What may be of relevance is the fact that there are other actions

against manufacturers in other jurisdictions. In a question of prejudice it may be significant

that the same issues have been or are being investigated in other jurisdictions, though that may

not apply to the third defenders in YT (Cousin Biotech). Nor does it apply to the doctors.

Application of sections 19A and 22B(6)

[198] It is convenient to deal with all of the section 19A issues that arise in the cases against

the doctors together since the averments in each are much the same and there are common

themes. With the exception of AH, the pursuer in each case deals with the issues under

section 19A and 22B(6) together. That is inappropriate since the issues are different.

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[199] All of the pursuers aver that the action is one of many raised against the defenders

involving the same issues. In doing so, with the exception of AH there is no attempt to

distinguish between the defenders. Thus in YT the second defender, Dr Milne responds that

this is the only case in which he is a defender. All of the pursuers aver that the defenders will

have to investigate all of these issues in any event. Again, that is not true of the second

defender in YT. Nor does it take into account the realities of the case against the doctors.

Accordingly while in AH, SR and EN the individual health boards are convened as defenders

that is because they have vicarious responsibility for their employees. Each case will have to be

separately investigated by these defenders.

[200] All of the pursuers aver that their medical conditions are well documented in the

medical records. That is admitted in at least one case (YT). I have not examined the medical

records but it does appear that the doctors have been able to make fairly full averments about

the meetings they had with the pursuers in each case and the advice that they gave. I assume

that this comes from the records. However in AH and EN the doctors point out that the

pursuer does not accept the accuracy of the records (at least so far as consent is concerned). In

EN it is averred that the pursuer has symptoms that she has never reported.

[201] In YT it is specifically averred that there are no issues that turn on individual

recollections of events in relation to the claim against the second defender. There is a similar

averment in relation to the doctors in EN. That is clearly incorrect and demonstrates a failure to

appreciate the nature of the case against the individual doctors.

[202] As I indicated each of the pursuers avers that they have a strong case against the

doctors. Having regard to the fact that there is in each case a very substantial dispute of fact I

cannot accept that assertion. Each pursuer submits that in the event of the action being

dismissed there is no reasonable prospect of success against their solicitor. In some of the cases

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there is some explanation given for what the defenders submit are delays in consulting a

solicitor and raising the action.

[203] I have considered what I should do in respect of the section 19A part of these claims. I

gave consideration as to whether I should order a preliminary proof but in general I am not

persuaded that is necessary or desirable. On the whole the pursuers’ averments are sparse.

Where there is a positive assertion of fact eg the account of the events prior to the raising of the

action it may be that these matters can either be agreed or that the court proceed on the basis

that they are taken as fact for the purposes of the debate. At this stage I am not persuaded that

the delays are inordinate given the nature of the actions against a number of parties. Where

there is an explanation involving the obtaining of medical records and the instruction of

counsel it appears reasonable against the background of a very large number of similar actions

being handled by a relatively small number of agents and counsel.

[204] The factor that I find most troubling is the possibility of prejudice to the doctors as a

result of the long delay between the operation in each case and the raising of the action. On the

authorities that may well prove fatal to the section 19A claims. The cases turn on the

pre-operative consent process. That in turn will depend on the content of discussions, usually

on a number of occasions leading up to the operation. In most cases there is more than one

doctor involved in this process. Their memories may well be dimmed by the passing of time, as

will that of the pursuer. The difference may be that a doctor will find it harder to recall the

specifics of a conversation with a particular patient out of the many patients he or she may see

in a particular period.

[205] However it is apparent that the doctors have been able to make fairly full averments as a

result I assume of having detailed medical records. Putting to one side the issue of their

accuracy for a moment it may be that the prejudice to the doctors will be substantially reduced

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because of the existence of these records. This was a matter that I was not addressed on and I

will therefore invite parties to make further submissions on this point.

[206] The position with regard to section 22B(6) will depend on the outcome of the time bar

plea against the manufacturers.

Chapter Seven: Conclusions

[207] The common law case against the manufacturers has been withdrawn. Accordingly I

shall sustain the relevant pleas in law to the extent of dismissing the common law case against

the manufacturers.

[208] I hold that the cases of AH and SR are time barred in terms of section 17 of the 1973 Act.

[209] Subject to the issues of time bar I am prepared to grant a proof before answer in all

cases. The scope of the proof is for further submission in the light of the views I have expressed

in this opinion. In the case of AH and SR insofar as the case is directed against the doctors it is

dependent on the court exercising its discretion under section 19A.

[210] I shall put the cases out By Order to deal with the following matters:

1. On time bar issues in the cases against the doctors I shall seek submissions from

parties as to the best way of resolving the outstanding section 17 issues in respect

of YT and EN and the exercise of discretion under section 19A in respect of all

the cases.

2. On time bar in respect of the cases against the manufacturers I shall seek further

submissions on whether the issues under section 22B, including the possible

exercise of discretion under section 22B(6) should be dealt with at a preliminary

proof or reserved to a proof before answer.

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3. The matters to be excluded from probation in the cases against the doctors and

the ensuing scope of any inquiry at a proof before answer.

4. The matters to be excluded from probation in the cases against the

manufacturers.

5. Any other specification points not already dealt with.

[211] I would be grateful if parties would submit written proposals 7 days before the By

Order Hearing.

[212] I reserve all matters of expenses.