Fiona Buchanan

Biography

Prior to embarking upon an academic career, Fiona spent 14 years practising as a solicitor, as a partner in a Manchester firm specialising in all aspects of medical law and advising the NHS Litigation Authority. During this time, she handled claims involving injuries of utmost severity - typically allegations of negligence in the obstetric and neurosurgical arenas - and advised on a wide range of medico-legal and ethical issues, in particular relating to patient capacity and consent.

Fiona has been instructed in many cases of clinical negligence litigation, including establishing legal precedent in the Court of Appeal (Walkin v South Manchester Health Authority [1995] 4 AER 132). She has coordinated the defence of large group actions on behalf of NHS clients and acted as legal advisor to several hospital trusts, as well as acting as legal advisor to the risk management committee of a large NHS teaching hospital. She has practised in other areas of law, including family law, general civil litigation and crime.

Fiona joined the University of Cumbria in 2007. She works part-time, teaching medical law & ethics, family law and European Union law, the latter both as a core module and also within the legal skills programme. Her style of teaching reflects practical experience in the profession. Current interests lie in aspects of medical ethics and end of life issues.

Qualifications and memberships

LLB (Hons) (University of Nottingham)

Solicitors' Final Examination (Trent Polytechnic) 

Solicitor of the Supreme Court

Member of the Law Society of England and Wales

Member of the Society of Legal Scholars

Postgaduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (University of Lancaster)

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Academic and research interests

Medical law and ethics

Family law

European Union law

Return to meet the staff