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The pressures of practising in medicine today are well-known: rising patient expectations have, perhaps, been fed by an increasingly hostile media, a problem that has potentially led to a more litigious landscape at a time when dwindling NHS resources are already posing an obstacle to the safe delivery of healthcare.

The Scottish Government is exploring the possibility of a no-fault compensation scheme – here Gareth Gillespie looks at how it works in Sweden

Following your feedback, Medical Protection has launched a new way of supporting you if you receive a clinical negligence claim. MPS medicolegal adviser Dr Sam Godwin explains what the changes mean

In 2007 Clare Bowen’s five-year-old daughter Beth died during surgery at a hospital in the UK. Here she tells her story to Sara Dawson – and relays her hopes that it will reduce the likelihood of such an incident happening again

In his follow-up to last edition’s article on high reliability organisations, Dr Dan Cohen revisits a personal experience that formed part of his own steep learning curve.

Last year’s custodial sentence for surgeon David Sellu, following a verdict of gross negligence manslaughter, raised concerns within the profession. Former Casebook Editor-in-chief Dr Stephanie Bown met with Professor Norman Williams, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, to discuss what the ruling means for healthcare professionals.

Doctors face a number of challenges when prescribing: Sara Dawson explores some risk strategies and looks at a classic case of a drug name mix-up

Dr Dan Cohen, an international medical director based in the US, looks at the biggest challenge to healthcare safety: complacency

His Honour Judge David Pearl has been Chair of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) since June 2012. The MPTS took over the adjudication of doctors’ fitness to practise from the GMC in order to create a system independent of the investigation process. Judge Pearl recently met with Gareth Gillespie to reflect on the first year of the MPTS and what further plans he has in store for the organisation.