Medico-legal opinions
Independent expert surgical opinion
Prof Eugenio Panieri provides independent expert surgical opinion to instructing attorneys, medical defence organisations and insurers, drawing on almost three decades of clinical practice in general, oncological and endocrine surgery, together with senior governance and educational roles within the surgical profession in the Western Cape.
Medico-legal experience
Prof Panieri has provided expert reports in matters for the Medical Protection Society and other insurers, spanning both preliminary opinions and responsive reports addressing opposing experts. His opinions are grounded in an evidence-based assessment of the information available to the treating surgeon at the time, consistent with the standard applicable in negligence assessment, not retrospective judgement based on outcome.
Areas of opinion
Surgical governance experience
- General Specialist Head: General Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital and Metro West, Western Cape Department of Health (since 2013)
- Chair, Provincial Clinical Governance Committee in Surgery (PGCG), responsible for setting protocols and standards for surgical services across the Western Cape
- Clinical reviewer of medico-legal cases and complaints at Groote Schuur Hospital
This governance and standard-setting experience gives Prof Panieri a working, current understanding of what constitutes reasonable surgical practice and departmental protocol in the South African public and private sector context, directly relevant to assessing standard of care.
Academic and educational standing
- Ad Hominem Associate Professor, Division of General Surgery, University of Cape Town
- Author of 39 book chapters and 31 online guidelines on basic surgical principles, surgical pathology, treatment protocols and surgical techniques
- Past President, Surgical Research Society of South Africa; Past President, South African Society of Endoscopic Surgeons; Founding member and EXCO member, Endocrine Surgeons of South Africa
Instructing Prof Panieri
To instruct Prof Panieri or request a preliminary opinion, contact the practice office. For urgent, time-sensitive instructions, instructing parties are welcome to contact Prof Panieri directly.