Select country
Refine my search
Factsheet 09/01/2013

Access to medical reports - Scotland

Access to medical reports - Scotland

Time to read article: 3 mins
Close Preview

Doctors may, on occasion, receive a request from a patient’s employer for a medical report to be delivered directly to the HR department, without the patient seeing it. However, before any medical report can be provided, you must be satisfied that the patient has given valid consent to the release of the information. This factsheet looks at the issues surrounding medical reports for employers and other organisations, and offers advice to doctors who are asked to write reports.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Factsheet 04/01/2013

Safeguarding children FAQs - Northern Ireland

Safeguarding children FAQs - Northern Ireland

Time to read article: 3 mins
Close Preview

The GMC states that “doctors play a crucial role in protecting children from abuse and neglect”. Child maltreatment includes neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. The following frequently asked questions are designed to advise MPS members what to do and who to contact, should they suspect children are at risk of, or are experiencing, harm.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Factsheet 04/01/2013

Giving evidence - Scotland

Giving evidence - Scotland

Time to read article: 4 mins
Close Preview

As a doctor, you may be asked to give evidence in many different types of forums including criminal or civil courts, Fatal Accident Inquiries and employment or mental health tribunals. This factsheet gives further information about what to expect and how to prepare.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Factsheet 01/01/2013

Mental Capacity Act 2005 - Independent Mental Capacity Advocates

Mental Capacity Act 2005 - Independent Mental Capacity Advocates

Time to read article: 3 mins
Close Preview

The role of Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs) is to support and represent a person who lacks capacity in making a specific decision, and who has no-one (other than paid carers) to support them. This factsheet sets out further information about IMCAs and the role they play.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Factsheet 01/01/2013

Access to health records - Wales

Access to health records - Wales

Time to read article: 5 mins
Close Preview

Providing access to medical records is essentially a confidentiality issue; therefore, the starting point is whether or not the patient has consented to disclosure. If not, access should be denied, unless there is some other clear justification for allowing access.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Articles and features 19/12/2012

‘Tis the season to be jolly… but vigilant to serious conditions

‘Tis the season to be jolly… but vigilant to serious conditions

Time to read article: 3 mins
Close Preview

Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, MPS medicolegal adviser and spokesperson. She advises and supports healthcare professionals predominantly in the UK and Asia, and has a specialist interest in emerging matters. Dr Bradshaw has had articles placed in leading medical trade publications on a number of legal and ethical issues. Here, she discusses the unique risks that can come with treating patients at Christmas time

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Factsheet 01/09/2012

Communicating with patients by fax and email - Northern Ireland

Communicating with patients by fax and email - Northern Ireland

Time to read article: 3 mins
Close Preview

Electronic communication can provide a useful and alternative point of access for patients. However, you should make sure that, if sensitive information needs to be sent electronically, safeguards are in place to avoid breaching patient confidentiality. This factsheet sets out the potential risks of electronic communication.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Casebook 01/09/2012

Fairness to all: A look at Membership Governance

Fairness to all: A look at Membership Governance

Time to read article: 5 mins
Close Preview

Many members of MPS will have very few medicolegal cases in the course of their career. But what happens to those who need assistance rather more frequently? Sarah Whitehouse finds out more.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Factsheet 01/09/2012

Communicating with patients by fax and email - Wales

Communicating with patients by fax and email - Wales

Time to read article: 3 mins
Close Preview

Electronic communication can provide a useful and alternative point of access for patients. However, you should make sure that if sensitive information needs to besent electronically, safeguards are in place to avoid breaching patient confidentiality. This factsheet sets out the potential risks of electronic communication.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Factsheet 01/09/2012

Communicating with patients by fax and email - Scotland

Communicating with patients by fax and email - Scotland

Time to read article: 3 mins
Close Preview

Electronic communication can provide a useful and alternative point of access for patients. However, you should make sure that, if sensitive information needs to be sent electronically, safeguards are in place to avoid breaching patient confidentiality. This factsheet sets out the potential risks of electronic communication.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Articles and features 04/08/2012

GMC launches new tribunal service for UK doctors

GMC launches new tribunal service for UK doctors

Time to read article: 3 mins
Close Preview

A new tribunal service to decide on the fitness to practise of UK doctors was launched on 11 June, in the biggest shake up of medical regulation in the United Kingdom since the formation of the General Medical Council more than 150 years ago.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Factsheet 01/08/2012

Mental Capacity Act 2005 - Best interests tests - England and Wales

Mental Capacity Act 2005 - Best interests tests - England and Wales

Time to read article: 4 mins
Close Preview

The best interests principle in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (the Act) states that any act done or decision made on behalf of an adult lacking capacity must be in their best interests. This can cover financial, health and social care decisions.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Factsheet 01/07/2012

Parental responsibility

Parental responsibility

Time to read article: 3 mins
Close Preview

Parental responsibility refers to the rights and responsibilities that most parents have in respect of their children. This factsheet gives advice on who has parental responsibility and where responsibility lies in situations in which there are disagreements over the best interests of the child.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

Casebook 01/05/2012

MPS Opinion: Spreading the use of HIV testing

MPS Opinion: Spreading the use of HIV testing

Time to read article: 4 mins
Close Preview

Late diagnosis of HIV in adults continues to be an important issue in the UK but for too long it has been absent from healthcare’s topical agenda. With national audit data showing that 24% of deaths of HIV-positive adults in the UK in 2006 were due to a diagnosis of HIV being made too late for effective treatment,1 and further data showing that around one third of all HIV infections in UK adults remain undiagnosed, and approximately 25% of newly-diagnosed individuals have a CD4 count of less than 200 – an indicator of late diagnosis – there is clearly a lack of timely opportunity to improve early diagnosis.

Read more

Article contains

Tagged in...

New site feature tour

Introducing an improved
online experience

You'll notice a few things have changed on our website. After asking our members what they want in an online platform, we've made it easier to access our membership benefits and created a more personalised user experience.

Why not take our quick 60-second tour? We'll show you how it all works and it should only take a minute.

Take the tour Continue to site

Medicolegal advice
0800 561 9090
Membership information
0800 561 9000

Key contact details

Should you need to contact us, our phone numbers are always visible.

Personalise your search

We'll save your profession in the "I am a..." dropdown filter for next time.

Tour completed

Now you've seen all of the updated features, it's time for you to try them out.

Continue to site
Take again