Medicolegal / Medical Negligence

Peter Willson has been an Expert Witness since 2005

acting as Medical Negligence, Coroner's and Tribunal Expert Witness.

His specialist areas are:

Benign Upper GI surgery (not bariatric)

Including gastroesophageal reflux, hiatus hernia, GORD, Fundoplication, achalasia, cardiomyotomy, Heller's and splenectomy.

Benign Biliary Surgery (non tertiary)

Including gallstones, cholecystitis, cholecystectomy, common bile duct, cholangitis, bile duct stricture, obstructive jaundice and bile duct exploration.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Including keyhole surgery, port access, pneumoperitoneum, Veress needle, diagnostic laparoscopy, adhesyolysis and adhesions.

Hernia Surgery

Including inguinal hernia, femoral hernia, umbilical hernia, epigastric hernia, incisional hernia, Spigelian hernia, ventral hernia, TAPP, TEP and groin pain.

Acute Abdominal Emergencies (not vascular)

Including appendicitis, bowel obstruction, bowel perforation, diverticulitis and pancreatitis.

Surgical Energy

Including diathermy, electrosurgery, fire, ignition, burns, harmonic, ultrasonic, vessel sealing and plasma.

To discuss a case please get in touch by email on medicolegal@keyholeclinics.com


For data security Mr Willson can offer encrypted email and encrypted large file transfer.


Please note Mr Willson does not undertake personal injury work


Please download copies of my CV, Medicolegal Terms and examples redacted reports

Risk Management

Electrosurgery Risk Management and Training

Electrosurgery, or surgical diathermy, has been used in surgical practice since 1926. It involves the use of high frequency alternating current to obtain haemostasis or cutting during surgery. The current technology in this field bears little resemblance to the original electrosurgical generator invented by William Bovie. Multiple machines and accessories with applications as diverse as laparoscopy and neurosurgery requires an appreciation of this technology to prevent patient injury.


I have been training theatre personnel, biomedical engineers and junior doctors in electrosurgery for over 30 years, and have run educational and risk management courses in this field for individual hospital departments, teaching hospitals, multinational companies and the Royal College of Surgeons. I was an adviser to CEDAR, the government agency responsible for the review of electrosurgical devices before it was closed, and am familiar with:


  • Basic concepts in surgical diathermy
  • Electrosurgical techniques
  • Patient safety and electrosurgical circuits
  • Interactions with clinical devices
  • Patient plates and their safety
  • Interactions in laparoscopy
  • Vessel sealing and feedback circuits
  • Smoke and flammable hazards
  • Comparisons with other technology eg laser, ultrasonics and microwave


For further information or commissions please get in touch using the information on the contact page.