Service Notice: 4–6 July From 2pm 4 July to 6 July, some online services will be unavailable. Membership services phone lines will close at 4pm on 4 July. Medicolegal support and advice remain unaffected. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Non-compliant patient sues doctor: whose fault is it?
Time to read article: 4 mins
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Whilst doctors have a duty of care for their patients, and their primary concern should be their wellbeing, how do we establish patient responsibility for their own wellbeing? Dr Dawn McGuire, Medical Claims Adviser, looks into contributory negligence and whether we can define patient responsibility.
Suzanne Creed, clinical risk and education manager at Medical Protection, explores some risk management tips and strategies to improve communication within your team
An elderly patient dies after his prescription goes uncollected. Who is at fault – the GP or the patient’s care home? Medical Protection assisted a member at the resulting inquest.
Mr U has a hernia repair and is later diagnosed with lung cancer. He makes a claim against two surgeons involved, alleging it should have been identified sooner.
Testamentary capacity – understanding the part you play
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Navigating the legal background and providing practical advice for doctors, Ricky Kimachia, advisory case manager at Medical Protection, considers recent queries from members regarding testamentary capacity.
The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB): what you need to know
Time to read article: 3 mins
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When investigating patient safety incidents, it is vital that this is done in an open and honest manner, without apportionment of blame. The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) has operated since 2017 but what should you do if you become part of an investigation? Sarah Pickering, advisory case manager at Medical Protection, finds out
As a GP, what should you do when a patient already taking a valproate medicine
attends for another prescription without meeting specific safety criteria?
A doctor's failure to link raised ALT levels with a patient's use of nitrofurantoin led to a complaint being brought against them. Watch this short video to find out how the situation arose and advice Medical Protection gave.
Why the way errors are investigated needs to change
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Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, Education Services Lead (UK) at Medical Protection, says it is unfair that doctors are being held responsible for mistakes that have been caused by system failings
Adult safeguarding and confidentiality – disclosing information to the Office of the Public Guardian
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Knowing when you can disclose sensitive patient information is a notoriously complex area. Sarah Pickering, advisory case manager at Medical Protection, considers some recent queries from members regarding disclosures to the Office of the Public Guardian
A tale of two doctors: the junior and the consultant
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Dr Marika Davies, medicolegal consultant, looks at the recent case of GA v Greater Glasgow Health Board [2019] CSOH 31, where the death of a 77-year-old patient raised questions over where the liability for the negligence lay: the junior doctor or the consultant?
Throughout history, doctors have treated patients, and doctors have made mistakes. We delve deep into the past to see what doctors used to get away with
You should specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology: here’s why
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Obstetrics and gynaecology has developed enormously over the last 30 years.
Yet despite the numerous advances in this field and the huge potential for growth, recruitment numbers have in the past been small.
16 things you should know to help you survive night shifts
Time to read article: 3 mins
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By taking these steps to properly preparing for a night shift you can minimise the risks for you and your patients, and reduce the likelihood of slipping up.
Dying matters: medicolegal aspects of end-of-life care, DNACPR and organ donation
Time to read article: 2 mins
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To mark the Dying Matters national awareness week, between 13 and 19 May, Medical Protection asked nearly 400 members in the UK about their experiences on a number of issues such as DNACPR, organ donation and withdrawal of treatment.
Mental capacity is the ability to make a decision. If a person lacks capacity, they have an impairment or disturbance that leaves them unable to make a decision. A patient’s capacity to make decisions about their own care is a fundamental part of matters relating to end of life care
Join Medical Protection today and practise with confidence knowing you have the best support in your corner.
At Medical Protection, all your protection is under one roof. Our protection goes beyond state-backed indemnity and supports you with more than just NHS claims.
With Medical Protection you can save up to 50% on your first year of newly qualified GP (NQGP) membership and up to 30% in your second year of practice. Get the protection your career deserves and the support you need as an NQGP.
Being subject to a complaint or investigation can be distressing and stressful. Our video series shows how Medical Protection will continue to provide you with personal support, advice and representation for a whole range of medicolegal concerns, protecting your career and reputation.
Read real-life cases of complaints, claims and clinical negligence taken from our archives.
Chosen to give you clear learning points to help you avoid similar situations and reduce your risk, the cases also feature advice from medicolegal experts.
Initiatives to transform the NHS are changing the way GPs and consultants work. At-scale arrangements are increasingly common and clinical contracts are frequently delivered through private organisations and limited companies.
Medical Protection can provide uniquely tailored indemnity and support that we can provide for your organisation and employees.
You'll notice a few things have changed on our website. After asking our members what they want in an online platform, we've made it easier to access our membership benefits and created a more personalised user experience.
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