Dr Breen is a practising NHS Consultant with dual accreditation in Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia. Since 2018, he has prepared independent expert witness reports in clinical
negligence and personal injury cases throughout the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

Dr Breen has expertise across all areas of general intensive care, including the management of critically ill patients with multi-organ failure, sepsis, trauma and peri-operative complications. His reports are clear, balanced, evidence-based and fully compliant with Civil Procedure Rules Part 35. He has often prepared evidence for the Courts in matters of clinical negligence and personal injury.

Dr Breen’s medico-legal expertise is supported by formal training in expert witness work, and he holds the Cardiff University Bond Solon (CUBS) Civil Expert Certificate. Over the six years, Dr Breen has diligently reported over 60 cases. He maintains a healthy Claimant to Defendant ratio and is happy to opine on breach of duty, condition and prognosis, causation and liability.

Dr Breen has extensive experience in cases associated with:

• General Intensive Care Medicine
  – Liver failure and transplantation
  – Bariatric surgery
  – Cardiothoracic surgery
  – Haematology and oncology
  – Preoperative medicine
• Anaesthesia
  – Awareness under anaesthesia
  – Upper GI and bariatric surgery
  – Thoracic surgery and hepatobiliary surgery
  – Cardiovascular management
  – Intravenous fluid therapy
  – Vascular access
  – Awareness under general anaesthesia
  – Preoperative assessment
  – Airway management and postoperative complications
  – Line insertion
  – Equipment failure
  – Aspiration
  – Anaphylaxis
• Post-operative complications:
  Delayed recovery
  Respiratory despression
  Failed extubation
  Aspiration pneumonia
  Cardiac arrest post-anaesthesia
• Post-operative complications:
  – Delayed recovery
  – Respiratory despression
  – Failed extubation
  – Aspiration pneumonia
  – Cardiac arrest post-anaesthesia
• Critical care management:
  – Alleged mismanagement of ventilation
  – Sepsis
  – Multiorgan failure
  – Nutrition
  – Sedation
  – Fluid balance
• Delay in escalation to ICU:
  – Withdrawal of life support
  – Brain-stem death assessment
  – Communication with families
• Pain management errors:
  – Epidural/spinal complications
  – Regional anaesthetic nerve injuries
  – Opioid overdoses
• Shock/cardiovascular support
• Echocardiography
• Respiratory failure
• Bronchoscopy
• Percutaneous tracheostomy
• Infection control
• Transfer medicine
• Special interest:
  – Intravenous fluid therapy and elecgtrolyte management
  – Point-of-care ultrasound
  – Ethics of care escalation
  – Prognostication and decision making

Dr Breen’s appointment availability 3-4 weeks and his report turnaround is 4-6 weeks.