Following new guidance from NHS England, Louisa Waite considers the importance of clear and honest communication when treating a patient who has reached the end of life.

Healthcare professionals do not need to seek Court approval when withdrawing treatment from patients in a permanent vegetative state, following a ruling by the Supreme Court.

Last week saw the welcome news that Dr Bawa-Garba’s legal team had successful appealed against her erasure from the medical register. Dr Rob Hendry, medical director at Medical Protection, looks at what this decision means for doctors, the courts and the GMC

After previously rewriting the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary on cauda equina syndrome (CES) red flags, an MPS medical claims adviser has gone one step further by improving the public information available through NHS Choices.

On 10 July 2018, NHS England restricted the use of mesh. Read our position and guidance for members on this issue.

In the latest development surrounding manslaughter in healthcare, the government has agreed to remove the GMC’s right to appeal decisions reached by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS). This change follows ongoing campaigning by MPS, and Dr Rob Hendry, medical director at Medical Protection, says this is great news for the profession

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new European Union (EU) law relating to the protection of personal data in the EU. Read our summary to help ensure you are prepared.

A new duty of candour for all health, care and social work services comes into effect in Scotland on 1 April 2018. It places an expectation on organisations to be open, honest and supportive when there is an unexpected or unintended incident resulting in death or harm.

The Government is surveying GP professionals in England to gain a clearer understanding of their needs ahead of the new state-backed scheme.

UPDATE: Eight months after the UK Government announced its intention to provide state-backed indemnity for GPs in England, we look at what we know about the planned scheme.

Prescribers are responsible for all prescriptions they sign, including repeat prescriptions. Here Julie Price, head of risk management and education consultancy at Medical Protection, identifies the risks associated with nurse prescribers.

New data protection rules are coming into force on 25 May. Dr Rachel Birch, medicolegal adviser at Medical Protection, looks at two key areas that are changing.