13 Feb Gold Jennings Settles Another Body Decomposition Claim

Matthew Gold of Gold Jennings has settled another claim against an NHS Trust for failing to preserve a body.  Cameron Whelan’s body was so badly decomposed that his family was told not to view it.   Matthew Gold represented the family of Cameron in a claim for breach of Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights against the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.  Despite the strength of the claim and the anxiety and upset it caused the family, the Trust did not settle until 5 weeks prior to trial.

The case is a testament to the vital importance of the Human Rights Act as sometimes being the only way to hold public authorities to account for serious failings resulting in a gross injustice.  It is an important test of any society how it treats its dead and if this cannot be done with dignity and respect, the relevant public authorities should be held to account.  This is precisely what this case and two other similar claims brought by Matthew Gold have achieved.

For more detail of the claim about Cameron Whelan go to this link https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/feb/12/nhs-pays-woman-cameron-whelan-damages-son-body-left-to-decompose.

Details of Matthew Gold’s first similar case representing members of the Brennan family can be found at this link http://www.matthewgold.co.uk/landmark-judgment-caramella-brennan-leon-clark-tammy-clarke-rita-clarke-kingsley-leader-and-guiseppina-saia-v-leeds-teaching-nhs-hospitals-trust/