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Articles and features 29/08/2017

Getting to grips with fit notes

Getting to grips with fit notes

Time to read article: 6 mins
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A common question in general practice: “Ms P’s fit note runs out on Monday – can you do her another one?” Your answer should be considered carefully as the following case illustrates, explains Dr Rachel Birch, GP and medicolegal adviser at MPS

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Casebook 29/08/2017

The worst of times

The worst of times

Time to read article: 6 mins
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Unemployment reduces wellbeing. Recession raises the demands on healthcare systems and makes it harder to pay for them. Doctors worldwide are having to adapt and change to cope with these additional pressures, says Sarah Whitehouse

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Articles and features 25/08/2017

Day in the life of… Dr Pixie McKenna

Day in the life of… Dr Pixie McKenna

Time to read article: 4 mins
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I wake up bolt upright at 5.30am. I look in the mirror and realise I’ve inadvertently left my false eyelashes on from the previous day’s telly. They hang rather precariously from my upper lids – my mascara is half way down my cheeks and my hair is doing a good impersonation of Jedward. My husband rolls over and states that I look like a drag queen and promptly falls back to sleep.

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Articles and features 25/08/2017

General confidentiality principles as advised by medical defence orga...

General confidentiality principles as advised by medical defence organisations

Time to read article: 2 mins
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All doctors know that maintaining confidentiality is an important part of building up trust with patients. Here, Dr Stephanie Bown examines the medicolegal aspects of confidentiality

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News and updates 01/08/2017

Provision of medicolegal reports/acting as a medicolegal expert

Provision of medicolegal reports/acting as a medicolegal expert

Time to read article: 1 mins
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If you are a doctor and want to practise medicine in the UK, you need to hold GMC registration with a licence to practise. Given this requirement, we have carefully considered the appropriate criteria we require of members who produce medicolegal reports and/or act as a medicolegal expert.

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Factsheet 06/07/2017

Duty of candour for GPs and dental practitioners - England

Duty of candour for GPs and dental practitioners - England

Time to read article: 2 mins
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The duty, which was introduced by the government through regulation 20 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, applies to NHS organisations such as trusts and foundation trusts, to secondary care clinicians, and to bodies including GP practices, dental practices and care homes.

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Advice booklet 04/07/2017

Handling the Media (UK)

Handling the Media (UK)

Time to read article: 1 mins
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Media scrutiny of you and your practice of medicine could put your personal and professional reputation at risk. The MPS Press Office is staffed by communications professionals experienced in dealing with the media.

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Advice booklet 04/07/2017

An essential guide to Consent

An essential guide to Consent

Time to read article: 1 mins
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Consent is a fundamental principle of medical law. The basic rule is simple: no-one has the right to touch anyone else without lawful excuse and if doctors do so it may well undermine patients’ trust.

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04/07/2017

Chapter 1: Medical Professionalism - What do we mean?

Chapter 1: Medical Professionalism - What do we mean?

Time to read article: 4 mins
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As a collective whole, doctors are regarded as “professionals” both by the public and by their peers. They remain the most trusted profession among the public, which has been the case for many years. Individually, some doctors may fall short of the mark. But what do we mean by professionalism? And how much bearing does this definition have on the behaviours expected of a doctor? Firstly, we need to be clear about exactly what a profession is.

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04/07/2017

Chapter 3: Professionalism - Great Expectations

Chapter 3: Professionalism - Great Expectations

Time to read article: 4 mins
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Today’s doctors are working in a constantly evolving environment, where many of the old expectations regarding the role of doctors, nurses and patients are being replaced by new ones. The roles themselves are changing – doctors are clinicians, leaders, teachers, managers, commissioners and purchasers of services.

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04/07/2017

Professional expectations

Professional expectations

Time to read article: 2 mins
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Any doctor who specialises in a particular field would be expected to keep up-todate in that area. This would apply to all fields of medicine. Surgeons with a special interest would be expected to keep up-to-date with developments both in the field of general surgery and their area of special interest.

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04/07/2017

Contrasting patient experiences of their GP

Contrasting patient experiences of their GP

Time to read article: 3 mins
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Patient A: I’ve got a very good GP now, I have got a GP who actually knows what fibromyalgia is, he’s prepared just to sit and listen, he listens a lot, he’ll let me try new medications, obviously because of my science background I probably know more about fibromyalgia than he does because I read so much in research papers, but he’s very willing to let me be a guinea pig and to work with me, which I think is important with a doctor/patient relationship, you’ve got to work on this path of chronic pain together.

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04/07/2017

The GMC's expectations on health

The GMC's expectations on health

Time to read article: 4 mins
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It is one of the great ironies that healthcare professionals are, generally, poor at taking care of their own health. Yet it is one of the core set of guidelines in Good Medical Practice that you have a responsibility to look after your health - if not for your own sake, then at least for your patients.

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04/07/2017

The GMC's expectations on relationships with patients

The GMC's expectations on relationships with patients

Time to read article: 4 mins
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Around 7% of allegations heard at fitness-to-practise hearings in 2011 were with regards to relationships with patients. As a doctor’s profession is defined by the duty of care to patients, it follows that standards of professionalism are entwined with the strength of the relationship between doctor and patient.

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