Kate Betts is a Senior Associate with Cooper Grace Ward’s health law team.

She has acted for Queensland Health, its insurer and other clients in the health and aged care industry since 2007.  Prior to this, Kate gained five years experience acting in insurance litigation matters including the defence of personal injury (public and product liability) and professional indemnity claims.

Kate regularly acts for medical practitioners, nursing staff and allied health professionals in medical negligence claims, the Health Quality and Complaint Commissions (HQCC), the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and coronial investigations and inquests. 

Kate also provides legal advice to healthcare facilities in relation to incident management and investigation, clinical and open disclosure and claim prevention, police investigations, credentialing and privileges, risk management and confidentiality and administrative access.

Recently, Kate was seconded to work as an in-house lawyer for a tertiary hospital and two outer urban teaching facilities for a period of 11 months.  During this time, Kate acquired a unique understanding and insight into the workings of healthcare facilities.

Kate has a Masters of Health and Medical Law and the focus of her research included topics such as open disclosure, managing self-represented litigants, and use of clinical practice guidelines in Queensland medical negligence litigation.

Kate also presents on topics relevant to her clients and their staff.  These include capacity, consent and confidentiality, decision-making, documentation and providing statements, the coronial process and mock coronial court and the interaction of personal injuries claims with the HQCC, AHPRA and coronial processes.