Professor Daniel Keenan

BSc (Hons) MB BCh FRCS FEACTS

Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Expert Witness

Independent expert opinion for solicitors in cardiothoracic surgery, thoracic trauma, personal injury and clinical negligence

Expert Witness Biography

Professor Daniel Keenan provides clear, independent and clinically grounded expert witness opinion for solicitors acting in personal injury and clinical negligence matters involving cardiothoracic surgery and thoracic trauma. His reports are informed by more than 30 years of consultant-level practice, senior NHS leadership experience and sustained medicolegal work over more than 25 years.

He is instructed in complex cases where solicitors require a careful assessment of causation, liability, condition, prognosis and the practical consequences of cardiothoracic injury. His approach is measured, evidence-based and focused on giving instructing solicitors a report that is robust, balanced and readily usable in litigation.

Why Instruct Professor Keenan?

·       More than 30 years of consultant-level cardiothoracic surgical experience.

·       More than 25 years’ experience preparing medicolegal reports.

·       Particular expertise in thoracic trauma, chest wall injury and complex cardiac injury.

·       Experience in personal injury and clinical negligence matters for both claimants and defendants.

·       Reports addressing causation, liability, condition and prognosis.

·       Experience preparing joint statements, attending conferences with counsel and contributing to cases involving detailed literature review.

·       Consultations available in Greater Manchester, London and Edinburgh.

Clinical Background

Professor Keenan is an Honorary Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Manchester and an experienced Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon. He practised for more than 30 years at Manchester Royal Infirmary, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and previously operated at The Alexandra Hospital in Cheshire.

His clinical practice covered the full range of adult cardiac surgery and included substantial experience in thoracic trauma, closed and open chest injuries, chest wall injury, traumatic aortic dissection and penetrating cardiac injury.

He has also held senior leadership roles, including Clinical Director of a large Cardiothoracic Unit from 1998 to 2002 and Associate Medical Director at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust for 13 years. Nationally, he chaired the first Clinical Reference Group in Cardiac Surgery for NHS England, was Medical Director of the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership in London for over a decade and chaired the Indicator Advisory Committee for NICE for ten years.

He maintains his cardiothoracic surgical knowledge through his membership with the major cardiothoracic surgical bodies, attending their meetings and journal clubs, and engaging with the current literature and guidance.

Clinical Negligence Reports

Professor Keenan prepares expert reports in alleged clinical negligence cases involving cardiothoracic surgery and related complications. His work includes consideration of breach of duty, causation, liability, condition and prognosis.

He currently prepares approximately twelve clinical negligence reports each year. His current claimant-to-defendant ratio in clinical negligence work is approximately 5:1. Around half of these matters have involved a joint report with an expert instructed by the opposing party.

He has prepared joint statements, taken part in conferences with counsel and undertaken detailed literature reviews where required. His civil cases have settled before trial, although he has prepared for court. He has appeared in the Coroner’s Court on behalf of the hospital trust where he was employed.

Personal Injury Reports

Professor Keenan prepares personal injury reports for solicitors dealing with serious thoracic and cardiothoracic injury. His work is particularly relevant where a case involves the long-term consequences of chest trauma, surgical intervention, respiratory compromise or complex polytrauma.

He currently prepares approximately eight personal injury reports per month, with a claimant-to-defendant ratio of approximately 9:1. Recent instructions have included severe chest trauma, rib fractures with and without flail segments, fractured sternums, fractured clavicles and complex combinations of these injuries.

He has also advised on cases involving intensive care, traumatic dissection of the aorta and penetrating injuries to the heart, including matters requiring case conferences with colleagues and counsel.

Areas of Expertise

·       Adult cardiac surgery

·       Cardiothoracic surgery

·       Thoracic trauma and chest wall injury

·       Rib fractures, flail chest and sternal injury

·       Traumatic aortic injury

·       Acute aortic dissection

·       Penetrating cardiac injury

·       Clinical negligence

·       Personal injury

·       Causation, liability, condition and prognosis reports

·       Joint statements and conferences with counsel

Professional Standing

Professor Keenan is fully licensed with the General Medical Council and is listed on the Specialist Register. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and a member of professional bodies including the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, the Chest Wall Injury Society, the Royal Society of Medicine’s Clinical Forensic and Legal Medicine  and Cardiothoracic Sections, and the Expert Witness Institute.

He maintains his medicolegal knowledge through regular expert witness training and continuing professional development with organisations including the Expert Witness Institute, McCollum Consultants, Resolve Medicolegal, Speed Medical and Bond Solent.

Professional Associations

Professor Keenan is associated with Resolve Medicolegal in Glasgow and McCollum Consultants in Manchester. He is also instructed through agents such as  Premex, Doctors Chambers, Speed Medical, Premier Medical and others.

Consultation Locations

Consultations are available in Greater Manchester, London and Edinburgh.

Instruct Professor Keenan

For availability, fees or to discuss a potential instruction, please contact Professor Keenan’s PA, Katie McGrath.