THE PHYSICIAN-LAWYER

One way to escape the confinement of State medicine is to combine LAW & MEDICINE in PRIVATE PRACTICE.

A good example is Dr.B.K.MURPHY MD LLM who moved from LEGATE & Associates in London,Ont to FORGET & MATTHEWS LLP in Toronto.

Brian Murphy (from bio. in Forget & Matthews web).

Brian’s medical and legal background allows him to effectively represent clients in cases of complex, severe, or catastrophic personal injury in the motor vehicle, occupier liability and professional liability areas. His ability to understand the views and reports from treating and other health practitioners enables him to apply his medical knowledge in a legal setting for the benefit of his clients either directly or through consultation.

For about 15 years, Brian practiced medicine - seeing thousands of patients over that time frame. He had a broad based exposure to medical areas including obstetrics, emergency medicine, motor vehicle injury, pediatric injury, neurotrauma, (direct and indirect) acquired brain injury, complex injury, orthopedic injury and other catastrophic injuries. He has a familiarity with the standard of medical care that ought to have been provided. At different times he has represented patients and professionals in professional liability matters. He has published articles in this area and appears periodically at law related speaking engagements and educational programs.

Brian has two degrees in Law, an LLB and an LLM. He graduated from Ludlow Hall, at the University of New Brunswick on the dean’s list with a Degree in Law (LLB). And while practicing law in Ontario, he obtained a second degree, a Master of Laws (LLM).

Brian’s preferred practice is in the severe personal injury field, including those injuries where there is a potentially lengthy loss of ability to work. This practice area also includes lawsuits in the health care field. Brian has appeared on behalf of clients in the:

1.    Ontario Superior Court of Justice; see for example the Ontario Court of Appeal decision of Placzek v. Green et al., [2009] O.J. No. 326 (C.A.) where Brian successfully argued the first interpretation of    section 18 of the Limitations Act, 2002, S.O. c. 24 Schedule B  which deals with claims for contribution and indemnity. This remains the leading case in this area.

2.    The Workplace Safety and Appeals Tribunal; see for example Decision No. 68/06I, [2006] O.W.S.I.A.T.D. No. 352, where Brian successfully argued that the applicant was entitled to benefits for repetitive strain injury.

3.    The Financial Services Commission of Ontario; see for example Baker v. ING Insurance Co. of Canada, [2009] O.F.S.C.D. No. 33 where Brian was successful in having the Tribunal agree on a highly technical point that a future care costs report ought to be paid when in ordinary circumstances such a report ought not be paid.

Brian works on cases which include, for example, severe injury arising from motor vehicle injury, medical malpractice, obstetrical malpractice, birth injury, severe pediatric/child injury, neurotrauma, direct and indirect acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, complex injuries, motor vehicle injury, orthopedic injury and other catastrophic injuries. These are the types of law cases where Brian can work most effectively for his clients. Brian can be contacted through his assistant by email atswaterman@fmlaw.ca or by telephone at 416-593-5400.