Anna Walsh

Lecturer
PhD candidate (UNDA), M Bioethics (Harvard), LLM (Syd), LLB (Hons), B Nurs (Hons), Dip Leg Practice

  • Biography

    Anna Walsh is a lawyer specializing in Medical Law and Bioethics. An former Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury law, she spent 10 years as a Partner at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, where she acted in a number of novel medical negligence cases and high profile inquests in the Coroner's Court. She has published widely in Medical Law and is a regular speaker at conferences. In 2011, she was named the Lawyer of the Year in Private Practice by the NSW Women Lawyers' Association, and in 2021 she was the recipient of the Catholic Medical Association's Mary Glowrie award for her contribution to medical ethics.

    Anna is a PhD Candidate at the University of Notre Dame, completing a qualitative study on doctors and freedom of conscience. She teaches Advanced Torts, Mental Health Law, Remedies, Advocacy and Legal Research and Writing, and International Perspectives on Bioethics and the Law. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at the College of Law in Civil Litigation and Ethics, and practices as a private Legal Consultant. She has Honours degrees in Law and Nursing, a Master of Laws (res) from University of Sydney and a Master of Bioethics from Harvard Medical School.

  • Teaching areas

    Bioethics, Health Law, Mental Health Law, Remedies, Advocacy, Legal Research and Writing, Advanced Torts, Contemporary Legal Issues

  • HDR and Honours Supervision

    Medical Law, Mental Health Law, Bioethics and the Law

  • Research expertise and supervision

    Medical Law, Bioethics

  • Journal articles and proceedings

      • Little, Deirdre, Elvis Seman and Anna Walsh, 'Covd-19 Vaccination Guidance for Ethical Informed Consent in a National Context' (2021) 26(2) Issues in Law and Medicine 127
      • Walsh, Anna and Tiana Legge, ‘Abortion Decriminalisation in New South Wales: an analysis of the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019 (NSW)' 2019 27(2) Journal of Law and Medicine 325
      • Walsh, Anna ‘Freedom of Expression, Belief and Assembly: The Banning of Protests Outside Abortion Clinics’ (2018) 25 Journal of Law and Medicine 1119
      • Walsh, Anna, Vicki Holmes, Janelle Morgan, Erica Dobson, Jenica Lim-Young, Matthew Littlejohn,‘Medical Errors, Limitation Periods and Children: A National Review’ (2014) 124, Precedent, 22
      • Walsh, Anna and Joelle Matar, ‘Expert Evidence and the Use of Photographs in a Medical Negligence Case: Masters bht Masters v Sydney South West Area Health Service (2013) 9(1) Australia Civil Liability 145
      • Walsh, Anna and Divya Pahwa, ‘Paul v Cooke: Causation: A Review of Normative Causation in a Medical Negligence Case’ (2012) 20(9) Australian Health Law Bulletin 133
      • Walsh, Anna and Divya Pahwa, ‘Scope of Liability: Christine Paul v Kenneth Cooke [2012] NSWSC 840 (2012) 113 Precedent 48
      • Walsh, Anna and Greg Walsh, ‘Complexities in Proving Delayed Diagnosis of Cancer Cases: Coote v Kelly [2012] NSWSC’ (2012) 110 Precedent 49
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Life Expectancy – Current Thinking’ (2012) 109 Precedent 18
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Causation in Medical Negligence: Update’ (2011) 105 Precedent 19
      • Walsh, Anna and Greg Walsh, ‘Tabet v Gett: The End of Loss of Chance Actions in Australia?’ (2010) 18(1) Journal of Law and Medicine 50
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Can There Be a Positive Duty of Care to the Unborn?’ (2010) 18(3) Australian Health Law Bulletin 22
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘State by State Limitation Laws for Medical Negligence’ (2010) 100 Precedent 24
      • Walsh, Anna and Duncan Graham, ‘Notes on Negligence’ (18 June 2010), Australian Doctor, 47
      • Walsh, Anna and Greg Walsh, ‘No Duty of Care Owed by Hotel Operators’ (2010) 97 Precedent 48
      • Walsh, Anna and Greg Walsh, ‘Medical Practitioners and the Duty to Rescue’ 97 Precedent 14
      • Walsh, Anna and Greg Walsh, ‘At Full Capacity: Farr v State of Queensland [2009] NSWSC 906’ (2010) 96 Precedent 46
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Can There Be a Positive Duty of Care to the Unborn?’ (2009) 95 Precedent 35
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Restrictions on Recovery for Pure Mental Harm’ (2009) 91 Precedent 8
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘An Example of 15% Assessment of Non-Economic Loss’ (2007) 79 Precedent 53
      • Walsh, Anna and Libby Brookes, ‘Damages for Wrongful Birth: Do These Claims Still Bear Fruit?’ (2007) 79 Precedent 42
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Wrongful Life Appeal’ (2005) 69 Precedent 47
      • Walsh, Anna and Carly Meagher, ‘Update on Wrongful Life and Wrongful Birth Cases’ (2005) 13 (10) Australian Health Law Bulletin 117
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘General Damages for Wrongful Birth’ (2005) 66 Precedent 50
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘A Guide to General Damages for Wrongful Birth Cases’ (2004) 13(5) Australian Health Law Bulletin 59

  • Conference papers

      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Current Controversies in Medical Practice: Euthanasia, Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery, Transgender Health and Conscientious Objection’ Paper Presented at Legal Wise seminar, 8th Annual Medical Negligence Seminar, Sydney, 1 March 2019
      • Walsh, Anna ‘Without Hindrance of Fear of Reprisals: The Attitudes and Experiences of Physicians with a Conscientious Objection to Abortion’, Presentation given at Bi-Annual Pregnancy Health Australian Conference, Newcastle, 27 October 2018
      • Walsh, Anna ‘Victoria’s Assisted Suicide Legislation and Care for the Vulnerable’ Presentation given at annual March for Babies dinner, Melbourne, 12 October 2018
      • Walsh, Anna ‘Conscience Clauses in Healthcare, Presentation given at Riverina Bioethics Forum, 1 September 2019
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Legal Framework for Abortion in Australia’, Presentation given at Abortion Summit, Parliament House, Brisbane, 17 March 2018
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Legal Update: Conscience Clauses for Health Professionals’, Paper presented at Solidarity Annual Workshop, Sydney, 11 March 2018
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Advanced Care Planning and Medical Negligence’, Paper presented at LegalWise Seminar, 7th Annual Medical Negligence Seminar, Sydney, 8 March 2018
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Conscience Conflicts in Healthcare’, Presentation at Humanist Society, Sydney, 8 November 2017
      • Walsh Anna, ‘Freedom to Believe, Freedom to Protest and Freedom to Pray’, Presentation at Annual Religious Liberty Conference, University of Notre Dame, Sydney, 21 October 2017
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Unconscious Bias’, Presentation at Solidarity Annual Workshop, Sydney, 25 August 2017
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Conscientious Objection by Doctors to Emergency Contraception’, Poster Presentation, Harvard Medical School, 27 April 2017
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Conscience and Abortion Laws’, Presentation at Solidarity Annual Workshop, Sydney 20 August 2016
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Doctors and Conscientious Objection to Abortion’, Presentation at National Obstetric Malpractice Conference, IIR Conferences, Melbourne, 9 August 2016
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘How to Effective Brief Experts’ Presentation at Expert Witness Training Day, Experts Direct Sydney, 26 May 2016.
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Practical Considerations for Plaintiff Lawyers, Paper presented at Legal Wise 5th Annual Medical Negligence Seminar, Sydney, 11 March 2016
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Formal Requirements and Practical Considerations for the Expert Witness in Litigation’, Presentation and Paper presented at Expert Witness Training Day, Experts Direct, Sydney, 26 November 2015
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Reproductive Liability Issues’, Paper presented at Personal Injury Update, The University of New South Wales Continuing Legal Education, Sydney, 24 November 2015
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Reproductive Liability Issues’, Paper presented at Law Society of NSW, Specialist Accreditation Annual Conference, Wollongong, 8 August 2015
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Medical Negligence Cases Arising from Faulty of Experimental Products or Treatment’, Paper presented at Medico-Legal Update 2015, Legal Wise 4th Annual Medical Negligence Seminar, Sydney, 27 March 2015
      • Walsh, Anna and Nikki Whiting, ‘Causation Update’, Paper presented at Medical Negligence Update, The University of New South Wales Continuing Legal Education, Sydney, 1 October 2014
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Paul v Cooke – a Case Review’, Paper presented at Australian Lawyers Alliance, Annual State Conference, Hunter Valley, 21 March 2014
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Practical Tips for Running Medical Negligence Litigation’, Paper presented at Medical Negligence Essentials, University of New South Wales Continuing Legal Education, Sydney, 12 March 2014
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Causation, A Year in Review’, Paper presented at Medical Negligence Review’, The University of New South Wales, Continuing Legal Education, Sydney, 19 November 2013
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Liability of Multidisciplinary Teams’, Paper presented at College of Law, Webinar, Sydney, 5 November 2013
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Aggravation of Injuries including pathology results’, Paper presented at The Law Society of New South Wales, Sydney, 7 August 2013
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Liability of Multidisciplinary Teams’, Paper presented at Medical and Health Law – Essential Update, The University of New South Wales, Continuing Legal Education, Sydney, 30 July 2013
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Medicine and the Law’, Nursing and Midwifery – a Positive Difference, Presentation at Australian Nursing Federation Bi-Annual Conference, Canberra, 18 July 2013
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Aspects of Plaintiff Litigation’, Paper presented at Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand, Adelaide, 16 April 2013
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Medical Negligence Update’, Paper presented at Australian Lawyers Alliance, ACT Annual Conference, Canberra, 11 April 2013
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Medical Negligence – An Update’, Paper presented at NSW College of Law, Sydney, 26 March 2013
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Cascading Errors in Multidisciplinary Care’, Paper presented at Medical Negligence Today, Legal Wise 3rd Annual Medical Negligence Seminar, Sydney, 12 March 2013
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Medico-Legal Reform’, Presentation given at the Law Society of New South Wales, Panel discussion, Sydney, 1 October 2013
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Medical Negligence Update: Joint Expert Reports’ Paper presented at NSW ‘College of Law, Sydney, 8 March 2012
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Is There a Maternal Duty of Care to the Unborn?’ Paper presented at 3rd. Annual Obstetric Malpractice Conference, IIR Conferences, Melbourne, 20 June 2011
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Update on Medical Negligence Issues’, Paper presented at Legal Workshop Community Lawyers, 12 November 2010
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘A Review of Medical Negligence Cases Involving Obstetric Issues’ Paper presented at 2nd Annual Obstetric Malpractice Conference, IIR Conferences, Melbourne, 16 September 2010
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Medical Negligence Update’, Paper presented at Legal Education, Community Legal Aid, Sydney, 19 March 2009
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Medical Negligence: Recent Cases and Topical Issues’, Paper presented at The Continuing Legal Education Centre, Sydney, 13 February 2009
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘The Standard of Care in Medical Negligence’, Paper presented at The Continuing Legal Education Centre, Sydney, 14 February 2008
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Update on Medical Negligence’, Paper presented at The Law Society of New South Wales, Specialist Accreditation Annual Conference, Terrigal, 1 October 2007
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Medical Negligence Update’, Paper presented at NSW College of Law, Sydney, 3 November 2006
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Wrongful Birth, A Review of the Case Law and Discussion on the Future’, Paper presented at Health and the Law, LexisNexis, Sydney, 29 March 2005
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Medical Negligence Update’, Paper presented at Australian Lawyers Alliance, NSW State Conference, Sydney, 5 March 2005
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Examining Wrongful Birth Cases and Assessing the Implications’, Paper presented at Health and the Law, LexisNexis, Sydney, 30 June 2004
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Legislative Changes Affecting Medical Negligence’, Paper presented at Health Law, Legal Wise, Sydney, 25 June 2004
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘Recent Legislative Changes and How They Affect Medical Negligence’, Paper presented at The University of New South Wales Continuing Legal Education, Sydney, 26 August 2003
      • Walsh, Anna, ‘The Ipp Report and the Obligation to Warn of the Risks of Medical Treatment’, Paper presented at Australian Plaintiff Lawyers Associations, Annual Medical Negligence Conference, Sydney, 1 June 2003

  • In the Media

  • Professional Affiliations

    • St Thomas More Society (former non-constitutional Vice President)
    • Member, Catholic Medical Association
    • Member, Ethics Management Committee, Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship
    • Former board member, Law Society of NSW
    • Former committee member, Law Society of NSW's Specialist Accreditation Committee
    • Former committee member, NSW Coroner's Court User Group
    • Former committee member, NSW Supreme Court Professional Negligence List User Group

  • Community Engagement

    • Honorary member, McLeod Wheel of Friends, Cerebral Plasy Alliance
    • Director, Women and Babies' Support

  • Awards amd Honours

    • 2021: Catholic Medical Association's Inaugural Mary Glowie Award for 'Excellence in medicine for her contribution to medical ethics' (shared with Drs Deidre Little and Elvis Seman)
    • 2018: 3MT Winner, University of Notre Dame Australia
    • 2011: Women Lawyer of the Year in Private Practice, New South Wales Womens' Lawyers Associatio

  • Other

    Taekwondo 5th degree black belt, Instructor Certification