Welcome to Medical Law Matters podcast, a legal podcast from our Medical Law Group featuring conversations with leading guest speakers. Join Partner and Head of UK Medical Law Rob Tobin as he covers topics ranging from advance care planning, the Court of Protection, medical treatment decisions and medical law statutes.
This podcast is also available to listen and subscribe to on Spotify, Audible, Apple.
This podcast features sensitive content around medical conditions and treatment discussions.
9: The anatomy of an inquest: a legal walk-through
In this episode, Rob Tobin is joined by colleagues Dan Freeman, partner, and Indi Kaur, legal director, to discuss the anatomy of an inquest. Together, they explore what an inquest is, why they are held and how to navigate the coronial system, guiding listeners through each stage of the inquest from the initial referral to its conclusion.
This podcast features sensitive content around mental health and suicide which some listeners may find distressing.
12 May 2026
8: Can medical treatment ever be futile?
In this episode, Rob Tobin, partner and head of medical law at Kennedys, is joined by Professor Hugh Montgomery OBE, a professor of medicine and director of the Centre for Human Health and Performance at University College London, to discuss the concept of futility in medical treatment, looking at best interests, patient rights and autonomy, moral harm, resource allocation and more.
This podcast features sensitive content around medical conditions and treatment discussions which some listeners may find distressing.
Visit My Final Frame at www.myfinalframe.com (http://www.myfinalframe.com)
19 Mar 2026
7: Urgent serious medical treatment decisions: a legal walk through
Host Rob Tobin and colleagues Dan Freeman and Indi Kaur walk through the legal process of urgent serious medical treatment decisions using a case study.
19 Nov 2025
6: Media scrutiny in high profile medical treatment cases
Dr. Laura Nohavicka discusses media scrutiny's impact on staff and patients in high-profile medical cases with Rob Tobin, exploring family motivations and lessons learned in this interview.
10 Jul 2025
5: Mind, autonomy and capacity
Host Rob Tobin interviews Dr. Ty Glover, a consultant psychiatrist, and Professor Richard Holton, a philosophy professor, about mental capacity assessments and the ethical considerations surrounding autonomy in medical treatment decisions.
9 Apr 2025
4: The assisted dying bill
In this episode, recorded on 26 March 2025, we explore the complexities surrounding the Terminally Ill Adults End of Life Bill in England and Wales, commonly referred to as the Assisted Dying Bill. This proposed legislation raises fundamental questions about autonomy, medical ethics, and legal practicality.
Rob Tobin is joined by Dan Freeman, fellow partner at Kennedys in the medical law team, to discuss:
The legal principle of autonomy and how it shapes the debate on assisted dying.
Key medical law cases that have influenced the shift away from paternalistic medicine, including Montgomery on consent, Tracey on DNACPR, and Cheshire West on deprivation of liberty.
The potential challenges this legislation poses for healthcare professionals and the legal system.
With assisted dying continuing to be a highly debated and sensitive issue, this episode provides insight into the practicalities, ethical dilemmas, and legal implications of this fast-moving topic.
In this podcast episode, references to Kennedys’ submission to the Bill Committee’s call for evidence on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill are made in relation to Kennedys’ submission (dated 3 February 2025), which was prepared for the Bill Committee.
Sensitivity warning: This episode discusses end-of-life decisions, which some listeners may find distressing.
14 Jan 2025
3: Treatment of eating disorders
In this episode, we delve into the complex intersection of medical law and eating disorders, joined by Dr Anna Conway-Morris, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Adult Eating Disorder Service at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. Listen as we explore:
Capacity and patient autonomy: Understanding how eating disorders impact a patient's ability to make informed decisions about treatment.
Legal frameworks: The use of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act in managing treatment and care.
Early intervention: The importance of timely diagnosis and the FREED programme’s success in improving outcomes.
The role of the ‘nearest relative’: Examining the legal and emotional challenges faced by families.
Innovative treatment approaches: Insights into community-based care and reducing hospital admissions.
Anna shares real-life experiences and challenges in treating eating disorders while ensuring patients retain as much autonomy as possible.
Sensitivity warning:
This episode discusses eating disorders and related treatments, which may be distressing to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.
Resources:
FREED Early Intervention Programme (https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/case-studies/other-mental-health-case-studies/first-episode-rapid-early-intervention-for-eating-disorders-freed/)
Family-Based Approach (https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/OH-140.20-Family-Based-Approach-ED.pdf)
Royal College of Psychiatrists eating disorder info (https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/mental-illnesses-and-mental-health-problems/anorexia-and-bulimia)
BEAT eating disorder (https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/)
25 Nov 2024
2: Advance care planning (part 2)
In episode 2 of the Medical Law Matters podcast, Rob Tobin continues his conversation with Dr Zoë Fritz on advance care planning. Together, they delve deeper into the topic, building on part one’s foundational discussion, and explore:
The ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) process: Its implementation across the UK and its role in aligning patient preferences with clinical judgement.
The timing of conversations: Identifying triggers for these discussions, including hospital admissions and significant medical procedures.
Ethical complexities: Balancing patient autonomy, family dynamics, and clinical recommendations in emotionally charged situations.
Real-life examples: Insights into how advance care planning impacts patients, families, and clinicians in practice.
Dr Zoë Fritz also highlights the challenges of miscommunication, the importance of shared understanding, and potential innovations in documenting patient wishes. If you haven’t listened to part one yet, we recommend starting there before listening to part two.
23 Oct 2024
1: Advance care planning (part 1)
Welcome to episode 1 and the launch of our Medical Law Matters podcast. (https://kennedyslaw.com/en/thought-leadership/podcasts/medical-law-matters-podcast/)
As the first in a two-part series on advance care planning, Partner and Head of UK Medical Law Rob Tobin speaks to Dr Zoe Fritz, Consultant Physician at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and Wellcome Fellow in Society and Ethics, University of Cambridge.
Rob and Zoe discuss:
What is advance care planning?
Patient autonomy and choice
Clinician/patient conversations
Shared decision making and the importance of involving relatives
Treating a patient in their ‘best interests’
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT)
Who has been a guest on Medical Law Matters
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dan Freeman
Indi Kaur
Dr Ty Glover
Professor Richard Holton
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
4.9 / 5
16 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 14 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
15
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Medical Law Matters
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Medical Law Matters
Who hosts Medical Law Matters?
Rob Tobin host the show. Published by Kennedys.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes monthly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Medical Law Matters take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Host of Medical Law Matters?
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