Articles and features 29/06/2023 The five principles of the Mental Capacity Act Preview Article The five principles of the Mental Capacity Act Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview Both legislation and the GMC’s guidance emphasise that doctors should presume that adults have the capacity to consent to or refuse a proposed treatment unless it can be established that they lack that capacity. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... students Consent & capacity Managing clinical risk Use Guidelines
Articles and features 29/06/2023 Consent and capacity Preview Article Consent and capacity Time to read article: 8 mins Close Preview Consent is an individualised process based on respect – it is more than a signature on a form, says medicolegal adviser Dr Gordon McDavid Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Competence Consent Managing clinical risk Generic Medicine students New Doctor
NHS Acq case studies 26/06/2023 Case study: A consultant surgeon turns to Medical Protection when ele... Preview Article Case study: A consultant surgeon turns to Medical Protection when elective work is criticised Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview An experienced vascular surgeon is shaken when three recent deaths ignite an MHPS investigation. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... MHPS Investigations Claims Consultant Wellbeing Professionalism
Case report 26/06/2023 Case study: Assistance following allegation of sexual assault Preview Article Case study: Assistance following allegation of sexual assault Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview Medical Protection supported Dr Sanderson* who called the 24-hour advice line after being excluded from work following a serious complaint from a patient. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... patient safety Consent Record keeping Communication Professionalism
Case report 30/11/2022 Equipment shortage and a delayed reaction Preview Article Equipment shortage and a delayed reaction Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Dermatologist Dr V faces a claim after the death of his patient. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... patient safety adverse outcomes Consent Communication Negligence procedures
Articles and features 07/11/2022 Ask the expert: online patient records Preview Article Ask the expert: online patient records Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview From summer 2022 GP patients in England have been able to have fuller access to their records through the NHS App. Sarah Baggot, Case Manager at Medical Protection, outlines the process and provides practical advice. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Consent Record keeping Communication Confidentiality Ethics
Articles and features 07/11/2022 Parental disagreements over a child patient Preview Article Parental disagreements over a child patient Time to read article: 7 mins Close Preview What happens when separated parents ask for medical information about their child? Dr Heidi Mounsey, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, looks at this common query to our advice line. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Ethics Record keeping Consent Capacity patient safety Professionalism
Articles and features 07/11/2022 Hidden devices – tackling the issue of recordings Preview Article Hidden devices – tackling the issue of recordings Time to read article: 6 mins Close Preview Julie Baylis, Case Manager at Medical Protection, looks at a dilemma which is becoming an increasingly pressing concern for clinicians in the ever-evolving digital era. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Professionalism Ethics Confidentiality Record keeping Consent Communication
Articles and features 07/11/2022 Pitfalls of social media Preview Article Pitfalls of social media Time to read article: 8 mins Close Preview Dr Heidi Mounsey, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, looks at the dos and don’ts of social media use by medical professionals. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Complaints Communication Confidentiality Professionalism Ethics Social media
Factsheet 08/09/2022 Professional boundaries Preview Article Professional boundaries Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview The doctor−patient relationship is based on trust. The GMC’s Good Medical Practice section on professionalism says that good doctors are “honest and trustworthy, and act with integrity and within the law.” Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Investigations Professionalism Claims
Case report 11/08/2022 Sympathectomy claim centered around consent Preview Article Sympathectomy claim centered around consent Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview We defend consultant surgeon Dr R after a negligence claim from patient Mr P. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk Consent General Surgery
Case report 11/08/2022 Corneal graft surgery leads to claim Preview Article Corneal graft surgery leads to claim Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Ophthalmologist Dr L is accused of failing to warn patient Mr M of the risks of corneal graft surgery. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Consent Communication Record keeping disclosure
Articles and features 02/08/2022 Breaching confidentiality: can doctors report a crime? Preview Article Breaching confidentiality: can doctors report a crime? Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview Dr Emma Green, medicolegal consultant at Medical Protection, recalls a harrowing experience encountering a violent patient and considers the impact on confidentiality when reporting criminal behaviour or assault. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Wellbeing Criminal acts Communication Ethics Confidentiality Difficult patients
Case report 01/07/2022 Alleged failure to diagnose perforated uterus Preview Article Alleged failure to diagnose perforated uterus Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Record keeping plays a major role in the development of this case, which sees GP Dr O receive a clinical negligence claim following the insertion of an IUCD. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Consent Medical Records Record keeping Diagnosis
Case report 01/07/2022 Knee replacement claim goes to trial Preview Article Knee replacement claim goes to trial Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr W receives a claim following his performance of a total knee replacement. Medical Protection fights the case all the way to a trial. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... clinical neglience Expert Reports Claims Record keeping
Case report 01/07/2022 Smile, you’re on camera: surveillance used in a case Preview Article Smile, you’re on camera: surveillance used in a case Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview A delayed diagnosis of diabetes leads Mrs Y to make a claim against a team of GPs. How did Medical Protection’s use of surveillance help resolve this case? Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Data Protection clinical neglience Consent Diagnosis Confidentiality Privacy
Case report 01/07/2022 The importance of good record keeping Preview Article The importance of good record keeping Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview Julie Baylis, Case Manager at Medical Protection, looks at a recent High Court case and how it underlined the importance of good quality medical records. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Medical Records Stress Record keeping Consent GP
Case report 01/07/2022 Video: Strong record keeping - strong defence Preview Article Video: Strong record keeping - strong defence Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Ms Q experienced a surgical complication while under the care of Dr G. In this video, find out how Medical Protection supported Dr G when Ms Q pursued a claim and made a complaint to the Medical Council. Read more Article contains Video Tagged in... Consent Compliance Record keeping Competence Claims Complaints
Articles and features 23/06/2022 Monkeypox update: informing local authorities of infectious diseases Preview Article Monkeypox update: informing local authorities of infectious diseases Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview Ceylan Simsek, Medical Case Manager, and Dr Karen Ellison, Medicolegal Consultant, both of Medical Protection, look at the legislation behind your statutory duty to notify. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... COVID-19 Record keeping Monkeypox Confidentiality
Articles and features 07/04/2022 Dealing with media enquiries about your patients Preview Article Dealing with media enquiries about your patients Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview Not only is it important to be well equipped to deal with the challenges and pitfalls that might arise unexpectedly, but also to be prepared to speak to the press or deal with media enquiries following a patient’s treatment. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Confidentiality
Articles and features 07/04/2022 Consent and alternative treatment options Preview Article Consent and alternative treatment options Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview High profile cases have put the spotlight on the consent process and clinicians are increasingly aware of the risks; however, Medical Protection data shows a number of claims alleging that a clinician failed to explain alternative treatment options. Dr Emma Green, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, looks at the case law surrounding therapeutic options, GMC guidance on consent, and how these impact on the information provided to patients during the consent process. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Consent
Articles and features 11/03/2022 Key considerations in the new firearms licensing guidance Preview Article Key considerations in the new firearms licensing guidance Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview The new guidance for firearms licensing, including arrangements for medical checks for firearm certificates, came into effect in November last year in England and Wales, and on 31 January this year in Scotland. Ceylan Simsek, Case Manager, and Dr Karen Ellison, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, discuss the key considerations for GPs Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... General practice Confidentiality
Articles and features 11/03/2022 Commentary: A case of wrongful conception Preview Article Commentary: A case of wrongful conception Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview Dr Beth Walker, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, analyses a recent case and looks at what it means for clinicians Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Claims General practice Prescribing
Factsheet 28/01/2022 Non-therapeutic circumcision - UK Preview Article Non-therapeutic circumcision - UK Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview Non-therapeutic circumcision of male children is carried out for religious or ritual reasons and is generally not available on the NHS.1 There is also a significant issue related to the appropriateness of the facilities in which the operation is carried out and a lack of formal training and certification in circumcision. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Wales Managing clinical risk Scotland Generic Medicine Consent Northern Ireland