The Adults with Incapacity Act was introduced in 2000 to safeguard the welfare of adults (age 16 and over) who lack capacity for making their own healthcare decisions, due to a mental disorder or an inability to communicate. This factsheet provides information on how patients with incapacity should be cared for.
Valid consent is just as important when treating children and young people as it is with adults. In some situations children are able to give consent themselves, and sometimes others need to take the decision on their behalf. This factsheet sets out the basic information to enable you to obtain the appropriate consent from children and young people.
MPS believes whistleblowers’ complaints should be taken more seriously
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Dr Nick Clements, Head of Medical Services at the Medical Protection Society said, 'MPS strongly believes that whistleblowers’ complaints should be taken more seriously to help achieve better care for patients in the NHS.
As an expert you should be aiming to produce a report which is free standing – from which the reader can glean the key issues in the case, understand the evidence available and reach a clear understanding of the range of expert opinion, without needing to look at any other document.
Supplementary GMC guidance to Confidentiality (2009) contains information for healthcare professionals on what to do when reporting gunshot and knife wounds.
As a doctor, you may be asked to give evidence in many different types of tribunals, including criminal or civil courts, the coroner’s court and employment or mental health tribunals. This factsheet gives further information about what to expect and how to prepare.
Mental Capacity Act 2005 – Assessments under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards - England and Wales
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Under the Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (MCA DOLS), six assessments have to be successfully conducted before a local authority (supervisory body) can authorise the deprivation of an individual’s liberty in a hospital or a care home.
One of the most difficult situations faced by any clinician is when you are concerned that a colleague’s behaviour, health or professional performance may be placing patients at risk. This factsheet outlines your duty to raise concerns when patients may be at risk of harm.
“From the case files” features unusual cases and cases with strong learning points. Here we deal with a common question on the MPS helpline – how to deal with a father’s requests to access his child’s records.
If a patient dies and the death is reportable to the coroner, you should leave all equipment in place until you have discussed the case with the coroner’s officer. This factsheet gives you further information about what to do.
In Northern Ireland, unlike England and Wales, out-of-hours (OOH) organisations may expect GPs to carry and use controlled drugs (CDs) from their own stock. This factsheet highlights what you should be aware of when carrying, storing and recording controlled drugs.
As an expert you should be aiming to produce a report which is free standing – from which the reader can glean the key issues in the case, understand the evidence available and reach a clear understanding of the range of expert opinion, without needing to look at any other document.
One of the most difficult situations faced by any clinician is when you are concerned that a colleague’s behaviour, health or professional performance may be placing patients at risk. This factsheet outlines your duty to raise concerns when patients may be at risk of harm.
MPS opposes new criminal sanctions and urges government rethink
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The Medical Protection Society is calling on the government to rethink plans to introduce a new criminal offence for healthcare professionals for wilful neglect or ill-treatment.
The Medical Protection Society (MPS) welcomes the importance placed on a culture of openness in the review of the threshold for the statutory duty of candour; but is concerned about when the duty will apply.
'Opportunity to address concerns' - MPS responds to decision to delay care.data
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Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, medicolegal adviser at the Medical Protection Society (MPS) said, 'MPS is pleased to see that the launch of care.data is being postponed by six months, which will give NHS England the opportunity to address the concerns that have been raised.
MPS highlights prescribing as one of the top risks in general practice
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Prescribing continues to be one of the top five risks in general practice based on Clinical Risk Self Assessments (CRSAs) conducted by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) at more than 150 practices across the UK and Ireland in 2013.
MPS surveys of GPs and public reveal lack of information around care data
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A YouGov survey commissioned by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) has revealed that 67% of over 1400 respondents from England say they have not received the leaflet from NHS England explaining the new care.data system.1 Furthermore, 45% do not understand care.data from what they have read or heard.
A year since Francis - MPS warns current policy at risk of sustaining culture of fear
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A year since the publication of the Francis Inquiry into Mid Staffs, the Medical Protection Society warns that the current policy direction may sustain a culture of fear in hospital wards instead of improving it.
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