Expert witness nursing opinions for the legal profession in Australia

Eunice Gribbin provides the court with clear, concise and unbiased reviews of nursing matters as an expert witness in nursing and is a certified nurse immuniser.  As well as having over 40 years of diverse clinical nursing experience to draw upon,  and has over 16 years’ experience writing medico-legal reports. She holds a Master of Health Law and was awarded her PhD in 2023 from Flinders University in South Australia.

Eunice has over 20 years’ experience teaching both nursing and medical students in a diverse range of subjects and has facilitated students during their clinical placements in all hospital settings for the major universities in Sydney; and has previously been an examiner for the Graduate Certificate in Perioperative Nursing with the Australian College of Nursing.

Eunice Gribbin
RN. BHSc. Periop Nursing. Grad Dip Ed. MHL. PhD.

Services Include:

Expert opinions in nursing

Eunice is regularly called upon to provide expert opinion on legal matters relating to nursing practice. She has provided opinions for every state and territory in Australia on diverse subjects including medical and surgical nursing, cannula and extravasation injuries, immunisation injuries, nursing standards, perioperative care, postoperative care, falls, healthcare-associated infections and nurse injuries.

Deciphering medical records

As a nurse, Eunice can review and provide interpretation of medical records, clinical documentation, charts and other medical documents. She can assist any party to understand the complexities of each case by providing unbiased opinion on the relevant medical facts. Request Eunice’s assistance here

Identifying deviations in standards of care

Through experience as a nurse, a nurse educator and a nursing academic, Eunice has a practical and theoretical understanding of standard care in a diverse range of nursing areas including peri- and post-operative care; paediatric, mental health, neonatal and traumatic birth injury; as well as acute and critical care. She provides concise medico-legal opinions on irregularities and inconsistencies in nursing practice.

Teleconferencing/in chambers with counsel

Eunice is available to teleconference and consult with legal teams prior to preparing a report. Such meetings allow her to review documents, request further information, identify where other professional opinions can assist and may result in a report no longer being required. Contact Eunice to arrange a teleconference or consultation.

Clarifying terminology, tests and procedures

As well providing expert legal opinion on nursing care, Eunice is able to decode the complexities surrounding medical language including making sense of medical terminology, tests, procedures and processes. Drawing on her diverse experience and coordinating the documents she can determine if and when an error occurred.

Expert conclaves and providing evidence in court

The majority of cases requiring an expert witness will settle out of court through mediation. However, Eunice is practiced at presenting oral evidence. She has participated in several inquests, pre-trial expert conclave which proceeded to the NSW Supreme Court requiring her to present concurrent evidence on nursing practice. Read the details here.

Nursing standards
Paediatric nursing
Perioperative nursing, adults and paediatric (theatre, anaesthetics and recovery)
Postoperative care involving, drains, tubes, dressing, intravenous therapy/drugs
Postoperative falls whilst under the influence of medication
Postoperative infections
Pre & Postnatal Care
Surgical Site Infections

Cannula nerve injuries, Immunisation injuries, Compartment syndrome
Departure from nursing policy and procedure (obstetric, paediatric and adult)
Extravasation of Intravenous fluids, medications; chemotherapy, iron etc
Falls, postoperative under the influence of anaesthetic and opioids
Infection Control/MRSA
Maternal and child health
Medication errors
Mental Health
Neonatal

Nurse injuries and back Injuries