Republic of Ireland Code of Conduct

Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) is the UK based charity which promotes patient safety and justice for people affected by medical accidents or negligence. AvMA has over 25 years’ experience of working closely with the legal profession to develop good practice in advising and representing clients in medical negligence and other clinical disputes. Firms of Solicitors in Ireland who have signed up to this Code and subscribe to AvMA’s Lawyers’ Resource Service have demonstrated commitment to providing a quality service in this field and support of AvMA’s charitable aims and core principles for medical negligence solicitors, which are:

To be sensitive and supportive of the needs of people affected by medical accidents or negligence; to recognise clients’ wider needs in addition to, where appropriate, pursuing litigation or obtaining compensation.
To work with AvMA and other stakeholders in seeking improvements to patient safety and access to justice for people affected by medical accidents; to share lessons learnt (whilst respecting confidentiality) from the cases they deal with.
To keep up-to-date with developments in medical negligence and other relevant areas of law and policy; to attend AvMA and / or other appropriate medical negligence training / events and, as far as is practical, network and share knowledge and experience with other specialists.
To be open and honest with clients and potential clients from the start about chances of success in legal action; explain other alternatives; and to explain charging policies and means of funding legal work in a way clients can understand and is in their best interests.
To put the client or potential client’s interests above any other interest, even if this means advising clients that another solicitor may be better equipped to meet their particular needs.
To comply with the professional requirements of the Law Society of Ireland, and to conduct legal work in a professional and timely manner on behalf of their client.
To maintain the high standards expected of AvMA member solicitors and safeguard the reputation of AvMA and its members; to avoid advertising, marketing or other activity likely to bring AvMA or its members into disrepute.
To charge reasonable fees and obtain appropriate damages and recovery of costs from the other side for clients when appropriate.