Advice centre

Ayisha Hooper, case manager at Medical Protection, looks at the reasons why practices can be approached by solicitors for the disclosure of medical records

Brian Caldwell-White, case manager at Medical Protection, provides guidance on handling requests to release the medical records of a deceased patient​

Medical Protection advice line often receives queries from doctors concerned about patients that are driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Kate Cowan, advisory case manager, shares our advice.

Situations where a doctor is both an employer and the treating clinician of a patient are problematic and should be avoided. Sarah Pickering, advisory case manager at Medical Protection, looks at a recent query from the advice line

Medical Protection’s expert consultants frequently deal with queries about patient confidentiality. However, few cases reach the steps of the courts. Dr James Lucas, medicolegal consultant, examines a recent High Court judgment in a neighbouring jurisdiction.

When investigating patient safety incidents, it is vital that this is done in an open and honest manner, without apportionment of blame. The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) has operated since 2017 but what should you do if you become part of an investigation? Sarah Pickering, advisory case manager at Medical Protection, finds out

Knowing when you can disclose sensitive patient information is a notoriously complex area. Sarah Pickering, advisory case manager at Medical Protection, considers some recent queries from members regarding disclosures to the Office of the Public Guardian

To mark the Dying Matters national awareness week, between 13 and 19 May, Medical Protection asked nearly 400 members in the UK about their experiences on a number of issues such as DNACPR, organ donation and withdrawal of treatment.

Confidentiality is at the centre of maintaining trust between patients and doctors. But what are your obligations to a patient after they have died?