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.
Cosmetic interventions review highlights importance of managing patient expectations, say MPS
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Identifying whether a patient’s expectations are realistic and ensuring they give valid consent to the intended surgery are essential steps prior to a cosmetic procedure, says the Medical Protection Society (MPS) in response to the Department of Health’s Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions
Recall of typhoid vaccine highlights the importance of documentation
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The recent recall of a typhoid vaccine because it may not offer full protection, highlights the importance of health professionals accurately recording details of vaccines and batch numbers, says the Medical Protection Society (MPS).
Conference helps surgical trainees get to grips with ethical issues
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More than 100 surgeons in training attended the joint Medical Protection Society (MPS) and Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) conference – Getting to grips with law and ethics – on Friday. The conference gave an insight into the challenges of complex ethical and medicolegal issues, and ways to aid safer practice within surgical specialties.
Convenience shouldn’t compromise confidentiality, says MPS on GPs using tablet devices
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While using tablet devices might give GPs greater flexibility with accessing information on the go, such as patient records, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is reminding GPs and practices that patient confidentiality needs to be carefully guarded.
Think twice before disclosing full patient records to insurance companies
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Following a change to how some insurance companies are assessing patients’ medical history from GPs, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is advising GP practices to ensure the patient has given valid consent before their information is disclosed.
MPS has long campaigned for a culture of openness and has seen from its members’ experience, the importance of being open and honest when something goes wrong.
Communicating with patients by fax and email - Northern Ireland
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Electronic communication can provide a useful and alternative point of access for patients. However, you should make sure that, if sensitive information needs to be sent electronically, safeguards are in place to avoid breaching patient confidentiality. This factsheet sets out the potential risks of electronic communication.
Communicating with patients by fax and email - Wales
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Electronic communication can provide a useful and alternative point of access for patients. However, you should make sure that if sensitive information needs to besent electronically, safeguards are in place to avoid breaching patient confidentiality. This factsheet sets out the potential risks of electronic communication.
Communicating with patients by fax and email - Scotland
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Electronic communication can provide a useful and alternative point of access for patients. However, you should make sure that, if sensitive information needs to be sent electronically, safeguards are in place to avoid breaching patient confidentiality. This factsheet sets out the potential risks of electronic communication.
MPS welcomes information sharing but highlights need for safeguards
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The Medical Protection Society (MPS) has welcomed the Department of Health’s strategy to transform the use of information across healthcare. The world’s leading medical defence organisation believes that the principles will support communication, improve knowledge and promote shared decision making, however, patients need to be aware of the potential risks.
The Medical Protection Society (MPS) has found that there is still confusion by GP practices about the current complaints process, despite the changes coming into force in 2009.
Managing medicolegal risks during the holiday season
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With the August bank holiday signalling the peak of the 2012 ‘summer of celebrations’, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) is reminding doctors about common holiday problems they could encounter.
MPS guidance for doctors working in slimming clinics
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The management of obesity in the private sector has come under increasing scrutiny from the MHRA and GMC, resulting in regulatory action being taken against some doctors.
Mental Capacity Act 2005 - Best interests tests - England and Wales
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The best interests principle in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (the Act) states that any act done or decision made on behalf of an adult lacking capacity must be in their best interests. This can cover financial, health and social care decisions.
Parental responsibility refers to the rights and responsibilities that most parents have in respect of their children. This factsheet gives advice on who has parental responsibility and where responsibility lies in situations in which there are disagreements over the best interests of the child.
Removing patients from the practice list is an emotive issue, risking criticism from bodies such as the Ombudsman, the GMC and the media and should only be used as a last resort. The reasons for removing a patient from the list can be varied, but it should not be in response to patients lodging a complaint or failing to comply with treatment.
Parental responsibility refers to the rights and responsibilities that most parents have in respect of their children. This factsheet gives advice on who has parental responsibility and where responsibility lies in situations in which there are disagreements over the best interests of the child.
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