Polsen v Harrison (No. 8) [2023] NSWSC 764

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Polsen v Harrison (No. 8) [2023] NSWSC 764 Hearing dates: 15-19, 22-26 February 2021, 2 March 2021, 6-10 December 2021, 13-16 December 2021, 16-20 May 2022, 9 June 2022, 25-26 October 2022 Date of orders: 06 July 2023 Decision date: 06 July 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Lonergan J Decision: (1) Verdict and judgment for the defendant. (2) The plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE – medical negligence – bariatric surgery – whether failure to warn of risks – s 5O Civil Liability Act standard of care for professionals – where s 5O defines the liability inquiry – s 5P Civil Liability Act – warnings are treated differently – warnings given were comprehensive – plaintiff unreliable – s 5I inherent risk – verdict for defendant Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Cases Cited: Dean v Pope [2022] NSWCA 260 Paul v Cooke (2013) 85 NSWLR 1167; [2013] NSWCA 311 Polsen v Harrison [2020] NSWSC 1167 Polsen v Harrison (No. 4) [2021] NSWSC 251 South Western Sydney Local Health District v Gould (2019) 97 NSWLR 513; [2018] NSWCA 69 Sparks v Hobson; Gray v Hobson (2018) 361 ALR 115; [2018] NSWCA 29 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Katrina Marie Polsen (Plaintiff) Dr Harrison (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: AJ Bartley SC / JA Hillier (15 February 2021 to 2 March 2021); M Cranitch SC / JA Hillier (6-16 December 2021; 16-20 May 2022, 9 June 2022 to 25-26 October 2022) (Plaintiff) M Windsor SC / M Hutchings (Defendant)