Articles and features 23/12/2024 Presumed consent for organ donation: what’s changing where? Preview Article Presumed consent for organ donation: what’s changing where? Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview In a recent Medical Protection survey almost a third of doctors questioned were not comfortable discussing organ donation with a patient. With different laws across the UK and further changes imminent, this is maybe not surprising Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... New Doctor Decision Making Consent Communication
10/04/2024 Raising concerns and whistleblowing Preview Article Raising concerns and whistleblowing Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview One of the most difficult situations faced by any clinician is when you are concerned that a colleague’s behaviour, health or professional performance may be placing patients at risk. This factsheet outlines your duty to raise concerns when patients may be at risk of harm. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Professionalism Ethics Generic Medicine Reputation management Issues & conflict management
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... Consent Communication Record keeping Professionalism patient safety
NHS Acq case studies 15/02/2023 Case study: When social media and the press question your skills or c... Preview Article Case study: When social media and the press question your skills or conduct Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Ben Wozniak* calls on Medical Protection after social media posts criticise his abilities ahead of an inquest. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Communication Social media Ethics Professionalism Wellbeing
Articles and features 14/02/2023 Handling medical certificates Preview Article Handling medical certificates Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview Dr Sarah Hull, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, looks at a recent call to our advice line, where a GP was challenged over their support for a patient who said they were unfit to attend court. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Record keeping medical reports Professionalism Communication
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... Negligence procedures patient safety adverse outcomes Communication Consent
Case report 30/11/2022 Cumulative errors leads to a difficult birth Preview Article Cumulative errors leads to a difficult birth Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview A difficult birth leads to a claim for obstetrician Dr A. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Handovers procedures adverse outcomes Communication Record keeping
Case report 30/11/2022 An application for assisted suicide Preview Article An application for assisted suicide Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview GP Dr T requests advice when his patient asks for their medical records. By Ibrar Mahmood, Case Manager at Medical Protection. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Ethics assisted suicide Communication patient safety
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... Communication Record keeping Ethics Confidentiality Consent
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... Confidentiality Communication Capacity Professionalism Ethics Record keeping
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... Communication Consent Ethics Record keeping Professionalism Confidentiality
Articles and features 07/11/2022 Challenging patients – what options are available? Preview Article Challenging patients – what options are available? Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview Dr Emma Davies, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, offers some tips on managing challenging situations with patients. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Ethics Complaints Patient expectations Professionalism Difficult patients Wellbeing
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... Social media Confidentiality Ethics patient safety Communication Complaints
Articles and features 11/08/2022 Managing timetable conflicts Preview Article Managing timetable conflicts Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview When carrying out NHS and private practice work, it’s important to ensure that the needs of both your private patients and your NHS patients are met. Dr Heidi Mounsey, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, looks at one potential scenario and offers some guidance. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Communication
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... disclosure Consent Communication Record keeping
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... Communication Difficult patients Professionalism Wellbeing Ethics Confidentiality
Case report 22/07/2022 Assistance following allegation of sexual assault Preview Article Assistance following allegation of sexual assault Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview A consultant faces an investigation following an allegation of sexual assault during a routine clinical examination. Dr Lucy Hanington, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, reports. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Professionalism Investigations Communication Ethics
Articles and features 21/07/2022 Dealing with negative online reviews Preview Article Dealing with negative online reviews Time to read article: 7 mins Close Preview Whether a bolt out of the blue or a digital manifestation of a deteriorating doctor-patient relationship, negative online reviews are an increasingly common part of the healthcare landscape. So, what do you do when you encounter one? Claire O’Leary, Case Manager at Medical Protection, advises don’t panic – use it as a chance to improve your practice Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Patient experience Social media Patient expectations Communication
Articles and features 01/07/2022 One size fits all? Conversations with patients on bariatrics Preview Article One size fits all? Conversations with patients on bariatrics Time to read article: 6 mins Close Preview Conversations around a patient’s weight can be challenging if not handled correctly. Sinead Lay, Case Manager at Medical Protection, offers some advice and looks at why the issue is likely to become more commonplace in future. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Communication bariatrics procedures Patient experience
Articles and features 01/07/2022 Caring for colleagues during COVID-19 and beyond Preview Article Caring for colleagues during COVID-19 and beyond Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the lives of doctors around the world. Dr Stephen Priestley and Dr Sarah Coope, Senior Medical Educators for Medical Protection Risk Prevention, suggest ways to be proactive in optimising the physical and mental wellbeing of individual doctors and their colleagues. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Wellbeing Communication Professionalism COVID-19 burnout mental health
Articles and features 01/07/2022 Reinventing record keeping with GPConsult Preview Article Reinventing record keeping with GPConsult Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview We all know the importance of keeping good records, and now GPConsult.co.uk makes it easier than ever for doctors to make clear, timely patient notes. GP Dr Rima Aboud talks about her experience with record keeping and how this new resource can help. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... GPConsult Medical Records Communication Record keeping
Articles and features 04/05/2022 Being a medical expert: do you have what it takes? Preview Article Being a medical expert: do you have what it takes? Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Medical experts are crucial to many different legal processes. They can assist in clinical negligence claims, regulatory matters, Inquests and even criminal cases. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Expert Reports Communication Medical experts Professionalism
Articles and features 25/04/2022 Tackling sepsis Preview Article Tackling sepsis Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview Sepsis is a serious condition, with significant medicolegal risk. Dr Dawn McGuire, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, looks at where the risk lies Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Handovers COVID-19 sepsis Record keeping Communication
Articles and features 16/03/2022 Great communication skills can lower risk of malpractice Preview Article Great communication skills can lower risk of malpractice Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview Edward Leigh of The Center for Healthcare Communication argues that good communication with your patients has the potential to lower the chance of malpractice claims - even when mistakes are made. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Communication