Robert Francis

Sir Robert Anthony Francis, KC (born 4 April 1950) is a British barrister. He specialises in medical law, including medical and mental health treatment and capacity issues, clinical negligence and professional discipline. He has appeared as a barrister for and chaired several high-profile inquiries into medical controversies/scandals. He qualified as Bachelor of Law (LL.B) (Hons) at Exeter University. He has been a barrister since 1973 and became a Queen's Counsel in 1992. He is a Recorder (part-time Crown Court judge) and authorised to sit as a deputy High Court Judge. He is a governing Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, where he has chaired its Education and Training Committee. Notable inquiry work as barrister He appeared as a barrister in inquiries for various NHS scandals: investigation on behalf of the GMC over the activities of the disgraced gynaecologist Richard Neale. He was struck off in 2000 after botching operations on women for more than a decade. the Alder Hey organs scandal at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, report published on 30 January 2001 the Bristol heart scandal at Bristol Royal Infirmary, report published on 18 July 2001 Notable inquiry work as chairman He chaired various independent inquiries: the care of Michael Stone who murdered Lin and Megan Russell, report published in 2006 on behalf of NHS London, the care and treatment of Peter Bryan and Richard Loudwell at Broadmoor Hospital, report published in September 2009 the first Stafford hospital inquiry report published on 24 February 2010 the full public Stafford Hospital scandal inquiry The inquiry began on 8 November 2010 and published on 6 February 2013.