Expert Medicolegal Reports in Anaesthesia

Anaesthesia Expert Witness Ltd (AEW Ltd), led by Dr H Bernhard Heidemann, provides authoritative expert witness reports across a wide range of medicolegal cases. With over 15 years of experience—including instructions from pursuers, medical defence organisations, and the Scottish Procurator Fiscal—Dr Heidemann offers balanced, well-reasoned opinions grounded in clinical reality. He has provided expert reports in cases across all parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Dr Heidemann’s clinical career has spanned obstetric anaesthesia, including high-risk maternity care, thoracic and head and neck cancer surgery, trauma, emergency general surgery, and inpatient pain management. He held senior leadership roles as Clinical Director for Anaesthesia and Theatres at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and for Pain Services across NHS Lothian. His particular areas of expertise include airway management, neuraxial anaesthesia, and Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (TIVA).

A seasoned appraiser and passionate educator, Dr Heidemann trains consultants and contributes to national and regional training programmes, including advanced airway management and specialist obstetric courses. His reports are impartial, detailed, and underpinned by decades of high-acuity clinical practice, and combine clinical leadership with academic rigour.

Dr Heidemann is recognised as an expert witness by the Expert Witness Institute. He has been vetted by AvMA, Action against Medical Accident and is an APIL, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, Expert Witness.  

     

Education

1992 State Exam Medicine - Heinrich Heine University  Duesseldorf
1995 Diploma in anaesthesia, DA(UK) - Royal College of Anaesthetists
2000 Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, FRCA
2007 Fellowship of the Faculty of Pain Medicine Royal College of Anaesthetists, FFPMRCA
2018 Membership Expert Witness Institute, MEWI

 

Peer reviewed Publications (selection)

  1. Heidemann B. Prophylactic abdominal aorta balloon occlusion during cesarean section. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2017 May;30:82. doi: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2017.01.001. Epub 2017 Jan 7. PMID: 28169064.
  2. Heidemann B. Interventional radiology for abnormally invasive placenta: do we need an alternative? Int J Obstet Anesth. 2016 Aug;27:1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2016.06.001. Epub 2016 Jun 8. PMID: 27406579.
  3. Daly O, Kelly KP, McCormack JG, Heidemann BH. Remifentanil PCA in labour. Anaesthesia. 2013 Jul;68(7):780-1. doi: 10.1111/anae.12339. PMID: 24044396.
  4. Heidemann B. Interventional radiology in the treatment of morbidly adherent placenta: are we asking the right questions? Int J Obstet Anesth. 2011 Oct;20(4):279-81. doi: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2011.08.001. Epub 2011 Sep 9. PMID: 21907564.
  5. Mok M, Heidemann B, Dundas K, Gillespie I, Clark V. Bloodless trilogy? Anesthesia, obstetrics and interventional radiology for cesarean delivery. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2010 Oct;19(4):456; author reply 456-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2010.05.006. Epub 2010 Sep 15. PMID: 20832281.
  6. Heidemann BH. Limitations of the comparison of fibreoptic-guided intubation through intubating laryngeal mask airway and LMA-CTrach. Anaesthesia. 2008 Dec;63(12):1374-5; author reply 1375. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2008.05765_1.x. PMID: 19032309.
  7. Mok M, Heidemann B, Dundas K, Gillespie I, Clark V. Interventional radiology in women with suspected placenta accreta undergoing caesarean section. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2008 Jul;17(3):255-61. doi: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2007.11.010. Epub 2008 Jun 2. PMID: 18513942.
  8. Balmain S, McCullough CT, Love C, Hughes R, Heidemann B, Bloomfield P. Acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy successfully treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Int J Cardiol. 2007 Apr 4;116(3):e85-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2006.08.045. Epub 2007 Jan 24. PMID: 17254645.
  9. Doddi MK, Heidemann BH. Unexpected failure of a laryngoscope. Anaesthesia. 2004 Mar;59(3):310. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2004.03698.x. PMID: 14984545.
  10. Jackson ID, Heidemann BH, Wilson J, Power I, Brown RD. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial comparing rofecoxib with dexketoprofen trometamol in surgical dentistry. Br J Anaesth. 2004 May;92(5):675-80. doi: 10.1093/bja/aeh131. Epub 2004 Mar 19. PMID: 15033894.
  11. Heidemann BH, Clark VA. Use of pre-emptive vasopressors for spinal anaesthesia-induced hypotension during Caesarean section. Br J Anaesth. 2001 Aug;87(2):320-1. PMID: 11780169.