BN Health Forum Sydney: A World of Hurt - Pain Management, Ethics and the Law

Dr Anthony Yap has been working as a general practitioner in Sydney since 2002. He is a medical doctor with extensive experience in management roles within the healthcare industry, including primary healthcare, clinical trials, and dermatology.

In 2020, Dr Yap led his team in opening and managing the first Commonwealth Respiratory Clinic in NSW, located in Bondi Junction. This initiative was a response to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sydney's East.

He co-founded Key Health Medical Centres, which consists of four clinics in Sydney's north, east, and CBD.

Rebekah Rodger has extensive experience as a trial and appellant advocate having specialised in criminal law across all jurisdictions both prosecuting and defending.

Rebekah Rodger also has a decade of specialised expertise appearing in hearings in health law, primarily in the professional disciplinary jurisdiction having appeared for specialist medical practitioners before the Medical Tribunal.

Lastly, Rebekah Rodger’s expertise extends to Coronial Inquests and Commissions of Inquiry where she appears as Counsel Assisting the Coroner or protecting the interests of individual medical practitioners or an interested party.

Dr David Gorman is a Consultant Physician and Pain Specialist. He trained in Medical Oncology and Palliative Care and now works as a Pain Specialist at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. He has a long interest in medico-legal issues - initially this was in medical negligence and medical indemnity. Now he is active in medico-legal assessments for patients with chronic pain as well as medical illness including chronic fatigue, long Covid and those recovering from cancer. He is particularly interested and expert in permanent impairment assessments in chronic pain, including CRPS. He is an Assessor in both the Motor Accidents and Workers Compensation sections of the NSW Personal Injury Commission.

Neroli Martin is a Consultant in BN's Insurance & Health team, specialising in professional indemnity (medical/health) and general liability. With over 35 years’ experience, she has acted for and advised health professionals and organisations in response to professional indemnity claims, disciplinary proceedings and coroner’s inquests.

Her practice includes a significant focus on matters relating to general insurance law, encompassing public and product liability, property damage, indemnity, and contractual disputes. Neroli also has extensive expertise in areas such as indemnity disputes, policy interpretation, contract claims, and catastrophic injury claims.

Hannah Shiel is a Special Counsel in BN's Insurance & Health team, specialising in health law and professional indemnity. Her extensive background includes defending professional negligence claims against medical practitioners and allied health practitioners in the District and Supreme Court, as well as assisting practitioners in coronial inquests. Hannah acts for a range of medical professionals, health professionals and facilities, and has developed a strong background in assisting medical practitioners and other health professionals across the regulatory framework.

With three years in-house at a medical indemnity insurer, Hannah brings a pragmatic approach to regulatory challenges, supporting clients effectively through AHPRA, the Medical Council of NSW and the Health Care Complaints Commission.

Kate Hickey is a Principal in BN's Insurance & Health team and has practiced exclusively in health law and professional indemnity for over 20 years, acting for a range of medical professionals and facilities. She has acted in defence of professional negligence injury claims and disciplinary matters, and is experienced in the defence of disciplinary complaints to AHPRA, Health Care Complaints Commission and the related professional Council’s. Kate has an extensive health law practice involving pharmacists, dentists, chiropractors, and physiotherapists, and also handles numerous veterinary, beautician and child care litigation matters. She is also a regular presenter of risk management seminars and has been a key adviser to the Australian Dental Association across the country.

Kate has been listed in the 2021-2023 editions of Doyle's Guide as one of New South Wales' Recommended Medical Negligence Lawyers. She has also been recognised in Best Lawyers for Insurance Law since 2023.