Independent expert in pain and spine medicine
Dr Glyn R. Towlerton BSc MBBS MRCP FRCA FIPP FFPMRCA is a consultant in spine and pain medicine and anaesthesia with over two decades of medicolegal experience. He is instructed by claimants, defendants, the GMC, and as a single joint expert, providing clear court-ready reports on causation and quantum in complex pain and spinal injury matters.
Overview
Independent medicolegal opinion and expert witness services focused on complex pain and spinal conditions across personal injury and clinical negligence claims. Reports are reasoned, structured, and written in accessible language for legal teams and the court.
- Balanced opinions addressing causation and quantum
- Literature support where relevant; transparent methodology
- Court compliant reports with statements of truth and expert declaration
Instructions accepted
- Claimant and Defendant
- Single Joint Expert
- General Medical Council instructions
- Experts meetings, joint statements, conferences with counsel
- Court attendance and evidence
Areas of expertise
- Spinal conditions: cauda equina syndrome, spinal cord injury, lumbar and cervical spine disorders
- Complex pain: complex regional pain syndromes, neuropathic pain, persistent post operative surgical pain, chronic low back and neck pain
- Interventional pain medicine: spinal cord stimulation, intrathecal therapies, regional and interventional anaesthesia
- Causation and quantum: mechanism and material contribution, prognosis, treatment and rehabilitation needs, functional capacity, vocational impact
Types of report
- Screening and advisory reports
- Condition and prognosis reports
- Causation reports
- Quantum focused reports (treatment and rehabilitation needs)
- Joint statements following experts meetings
- Addenda in response to new evidence or questions
Approach and process
Credentials and roles
- BSc, MBBS (Hons), MRCP, FRCA, FIPP, FFPMRCA
- Consultant in Anaesthetics and Pain Management, Magill Dept, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
- Honorary Senior Lecturer, Imperial College London (past)
- Chair, British Pain Society medicolegal group; Chair, LCA medicolegal group
- Board roles: London Consultants Association; Independent Doctors Federation (past board member and Chair of Specialist Committee); Chelsea Clinical Society (past)
Selected publications
- Mambalam P, McCarty, Towlerton G, et al. Long term safety of spinal cord stimulation systems (2023).
- O’Brien M, Duncan A, Towlerton G. Acupuncture for vasomotor symptoms due to tamoxifen. Palliative Medicine (1999).
- Kuehler BM, Childs SR, Towlerton G, et al. Effectiveness of chronic pain clinics. Journal of Pain (2015).
- Cowen R, Towlerton G. Low back pain: diagnosis and management. Prescriber (2015).
- Harvey JR, Towlerton G, Corbett SA. Spine and pelvis (2021).
- Ramos Galvez R, Towlerton GR. Clinical Pain Management – Topical analgesia (2008).
- Williams JE, Louw G, Towlerton G. Intrathecal opioid pumps: systematic review.
FAQs
Do you accept Single Joint Expert instructions?
Yes – accepted where appropriate and by agreement of the parties.
Can you examine the claimant?
Yes. In person clinical examination can be arranged where it will assist the court; paper based reports are possible where examination is unnecessary.
What is the typical time commitment?
Between 5-12 hours depending on complexity. This covers review, examination if required, drafting, and revisions.
Do you attend court?
Yes. Court attendance and evidence are undertaken as required.
Which jurisdictions do you cover?
Primarily England and Wales.
Data protection and compliance
- GDPR compliant processing of personal data for medicolegal purposes
- Secure handling of medical records and bundles
- Conflicts of interest screened on instruction
- Court compliant reports with statements of truth and expert declaration