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Factsheet 09/01/2013

Access to medical reports - Scotland

Access to medical reports - Scotland

Time to read article: 3 mins
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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.

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Factsheet 04/01/2013

Safeguarding children FAQs - Northern Ireland

Safeguarding children FAQs - Northern Ireland

Time to read article: 3 mins
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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.

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Factsheet 04/01/2013

Giving evidence - Scotland

Giving evidence - Scotland

Time to read article: 4 mins
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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.

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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
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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.

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Factsheet 01/01/2013

Access to health records - Wales

Access to health records - Wales

Time to read article: 5 mins
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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.

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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
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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.

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Casebook 01/09/2012

Fairness to all: A look at Membership Governance

Fairness to all: A look at Membership Governance

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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.

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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
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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.

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Articles and features 04/08/2012

GMC launches new tribunal service for UK doctors

GMC launches new tribunal service for UK doctors

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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.

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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
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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.

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Factsheet 01/07/2012

Parental responsibility

Parental responsibility

Time to read article: 3 mins
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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.

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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
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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.

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Factsheet 10/01/2011

Parental responsibility - Scotland

Parental responsibility - Scotland

Time to read article: 3 mins
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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.

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