In this article, medicolegal consultant Dr Rachel Birch talks with Dr Richard Fieldhouse, Chairman of NASGP, about how the experiences of locum GPs have led NASGP to design systems to save practices and locum GPs time, provide information and improve patient care.

Julie Price, head of risk management and education consultancy at Medical Protection, discusses how practices are adopting new ways of streamlining the workload to make service provision more manageable, whilst continuing to provide good quality care for patients.

Medical Protection’s expert consultants frequently deal with queries about patient confidentiality. However, few cases reach the steps of the courts. Dr James Lucas, medicolegal consultant, examines a recent High Court judgment in a neighbouring jurisdiction.

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

Medical Protection receives hundreds of calls every year from our members asking for assistance with coroners’ inquiries. But what does the process actually involve and what do doctors need to do?

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.

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?

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

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

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

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

When consenting for a procedure, wherever there is a risk of death – no matter how small – would you always mention this risk?

A procurator fiscal investigates all sudden and suspicious deaths in Scotland, conducts fatal accident inquiries and handles criminal complaints against the police. There are 11 procurator fiscals, each covering a specific geographical location within Scotland, who between them investigate around 14,000 sudden deaths each year

As a doctor, you may be asked to give evidence at an inquest, which is conducted by the coroner and, in some cases, in front of a jury. Find out what happens and how you can ensure you’re prepared