Michael Rivelin - Inquests & Public Inquiries

Michael is a barrister specialising in inquest law.

Michael has been instructed to represent families at inquest both in standalone matters and ahead of contemplated clinical negligence proceedings.

Before coming to the Bar, Michael worked as a doctor, predominantly in hospital medicine and surgery. Michael draws on this experience in his work:

• Michael’s medical knowledge enables him to quickly grasp complex factual problems and to test the evidence of medical professionals, and in particular when to push for more information.
• Michael’s familiarity with the inner workings of the NHS and commonly occurring problems helps him to predict early on the likely strengths and weaknesses in any subsequent claim.
• Further, through his work as a doctor, Relevant Person’s Representative (RPR) and Independent Health Complaints Advocate, Michael has developed the skills to establish good client rapport quickly and sensitively, which is particularly important in the inquest setting.

Michael’s recent notable inquest work includes:

• Counsel for the family in a 2-day inquest with 4 interested parties. The deceased had been subject to a section 136 by the police for severe drug intoxication but was discharged by the assessing psychiatrists, before tragically being hit and killed by a car just an hour later.
• Conclusion of ‘accident’ following an unwitnessed fall in hospital, leading to prolonged admission causing a hospital acquired infection and death. Staff admitted there was confusion around the falls risk assessment and they believed the fall could have been prevented.
• Narrative conclusion following unintended fatal consequences arising from a non-negligent and necessary surgery.