Dr. Mark Rosenthal, a distinguished paediatrician with over 30 years of clinical experience, has recently been awarded the title of Paediatric Medico Legal Expert for 2025. His exceptional career blends a deep commitment to paediatric healthcare with his extensive expertise as a medicolegal consultant.
Born in 1957 to a pre-war German refugee father and an English mother, Dr. Rosenthal's education journey began at the prestigious Kings School in Macclesfield, followed by Manchester University, where he earned his BSc in Pharmacology in 1978 and his MB ChB in 1981, with honours and distinctions in paediatrics, surgery, and pathology. His medical credentials are exemplary, having achieved MRCP (UK) in 1984 and Fellowships from the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. In 1990, he was accredited by the Royal College of Physicians as a Paediatrician with a Special Interest in Neonatal Medicine.
In 1994, Dr. Rosenthal became a Consultant Respiratory Paediatrician at the Royal Brompton Hospital, London's national centre for lung and heart disease. He continued his impactful work there until 2017, when he reduced his full-time NHS practice but maintained a small contract. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to the study and treatment of paediatric respiratory conditions, particularly in children with severe birth injuries and complex respiratory needs, such as cystic fibrosis and pneumonia. For the past eight years, he has also served as the only respiratory paediatrician on the National Crime Agency's forensic medical advice team, where he has provided expert reports in high-profile cases involving child asthma deaths and suspected suffocation deaths, often in the context of gross negligence manslaughter investigations.
Since 1995, Dr. Rosenthal has been a highly sought-after medicolegal expert, offering expert opinions on over 600 cases across the UK, Ireland, and internationally. His expertise spans delayed diagnoses, the effects of housing disrepair on respiratory health, and the respiratory complications faced by children born prematurely. His opinion is regularly sought for both claimant and defendant cases, with an especially high percentage of his work focused on birth injury and housing disrepair cases.
A highly respected member of the medical community, Dr. Rosenthal has appeared in court on several occasions, including five High Court appearances and a Court of Appeal case. His contributions to the field extend beyond clinical and legal work, as he has co-supervised six MD and PhD students and authored over 100 peer-reviewed academic articles. His research has significantly advanced the understanding of paediatric respiratory medicine, particularly in the context of medicolegal cases.
Dr. Rosenthal's commitment to improving paediatric healthcare also extends to education. He has delivered lectures globally and led training missions in Ukraine, Lithuania, and Greece, sharing his expertise on cystic fibrosis and respiratory management with local healthcare professionals.
In recognition of his outstanding work in paediatric respiratory medicine and his impactful contributions to medicolegal cases, Dr. Rosenthal stands as an exemplary figure in both the medical and legal fields. His holistic approach, combining clinical insight, research, and an in-depth understanding of the law, continues to influence the lives of countless children and families.
