If I accidentally bump into someone and hurt them walking along the street, my immediate reaction is to say sorry, regardless of whether it was or wasn’t my fault. What happens when we place a similar analogy into a doctor/patient context?
Survey shows the value of saying “sorry” in healthcare
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Doctors’ concerns about the implications of apologising to patients when things go wrong appear to be easing, according to research published by a leading medical protection organisation.
Dr Mark Dinwoodie, Director of Education at Medical Protection, discusses the importance of reflection and Dr Ayaz Khalid, a foundation doctor, shares his top tips for reflective practice
Medical Protection partners with Isle of Wight GP Federation
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Medical Protection and One Wight Health Limited (OWHL) GP Federation have formed a partnership offering GP practices access to advice, support, educational programmes and workshops that will help them meet local healthcare needs
Commenting on the GMC’s State of Medical Education and Practice in the UK report
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The GMC is right to acknowledge the 'state of unease in the profession’- patient expectations are changing and GPs are more likely to be sued now than ever before. It is important to strike a balance between holding doctors to account and reducing unnecessary pressures.
Risk alert: Advice on administering flu vaccinations
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Several members have contacted us with queries regarding flu vaccinations; primarily which practice colleagues can administer these, and what safeguarding should be in place if so.
There is no escaping the fact that ‘Dr Google’ is becoming more and more influential in GP consultations. At Medical Protection, we commissioned a YouGov online survey of 2021 British adults to look at the pros and cons of seeking medical advice from the internet.
Delays on applications to the National Performers List
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We are aware that some members who have recently qualified as GPs are experiencing delays in their application to have their status amended on the National Performers List. This is leading to some confusion as to whether they can continue to work while waiting for their status to be changed.
Almost one in two (47%) use ‘Dr Google’ before GP consultations
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A YouGov online survey has revealed that almost half of the public (47%) has searched online for their symptoms and / or possible diagnosis before visiting their GP.
MPS response to the GMC’s consultation on the UK List of Registered Medical Practitioners development
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MPS used the consultation to make the point that the GMC’s ambition should be for information held on the register to be fully up-to-date, accurate, and dependable. This is the register’s core purpose and current function, and should remain so.
An inquest is a fact-finding exercise that is conducted by the coroner and, in some cases, in front of a jury. The purpose of an inquest is to find out who died – when, where, how and in what circumstances. This factsheet gives further information about what happens at an inquest.
“Respect for the autonomous choices of persons runs as deep in common morality as any principle.” – TL Beauchamp and JF Childress, Principles of Biomedical Ethics (2001)
The General Medical Council (GMC) guidelines Doctors’ use of social media establish the standards expected from every doctor practising in the UK. The guide details the principles of conduct for using social media and explains how doctors can put these principles into practice.
The Mental Capacity Act states that a person lacks capacity if they are unable to make a specific decision, at a specific time, because of an impairment of, or disturbance, in the functioning of mind or brain. This factsheet sets out the things to look for when assessing the capacity of a patient.
Mental Capacity Act 2005 – General principles - England and Wales
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The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (the Act) aims to protect people who lack capacity, and maximise their ability to make decisions or participate in decision-making. The Act is underpinned by five statutory principles. This factsheet sets out these principles and how they should be applied.
Medication errors account for approximately 20% of all clinical negligence claims against doctors in both primary and secondary care. The costs associated with adverse events and inappropriate prescribing has been estimated at more than £750 million per year. This factsheet gives advice about avoiding prescribing errors.
Parental responsibility is a legal term which refers to all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his/ her property.
43% of the public believe £1 million or less was paid out by NHS for clinical negligence last year – actual amount over £1.1 billion
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A YouGov online survey commissioned by MPS of 2,000 British adults reveals the mismatch between public perceptions of how much the NHS pays out for clinical negligence claims, and the reality.
Missed or delayed diagnosis of cancer the most common reason for high value claims - Medical Protection
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A review of Medical Protection’s top 100 high value clinical negligence claims opened in the UK in 2015 has found that alleged missed or delayed diagnosis of certain conditions commonly recurred.
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