An early presentation
Baby T was eight weeks old when his mother brought him to his GP’s morning surgery. His mother had become increasingly concerned about his general irritability and frequent crying episodes, which lasted up to two hours. These had become apparent over the past three days, not settling with breast feeding.
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Missed critical limb ischaemia
Mr S was a 60-year-old lorry driver. He was overweight and smoked, and couldn’t walk far because he suffered with pain in his calves.
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Back again with cauda equina syndrome
When Mrs C, a keen golfer in her early forties, began to experience constant pain in her lower back, she consulted a GP at her local surgery. Dr P took a history of slow onset of pain with restricted mobility. He did not examine her, but prescribed an NSAID and advised Mrs C to return in two weeks if there was no improvement.
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MPS disappointed at small increase to the personal injury discount rate
Medical Protection calls for quicker action to squash GMC’s Right of Appeal
Non-compliant patient sues doctor: whose fault is it?
Whilst doctors have a duty of care for their patients, and their primary concern should be their wellbeing, how do we establish patient responsibility for their own wellbeing? Dr Dawn McGuire, Medical Claims Adviser, looks into contributory negligence and whether we can define patient responsibility.
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An uncollected prescription
An elderly patient dies after his prescription goes uncollected. Who is at fault – the GP or the patient’s care home? Medical Protection assisted a member at the resulting inquest.
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Treating asthma over the phone
Dr T’s deskilling in resuscitation leads to a patient death and a claim.
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Delayed diagnosis of lung cancer
Testamentary capacity – understanding the part you play
MDU takes legal action against Government over state-backed GP indemn...
The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB): what you need to know
The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB): what you need to know
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
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Dr Rob Hendry, Medical Director, responds to the Leslie Hamilton independent review
Paraplegia follows epidural
Consent and record-keeping are at the heart of this claim, which sees a patient left paraplegic following an epidural.
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Risk management masterclass for obstetricians and gynaecologists
Take decisive action to reduce to challenges to your practice, with our one-day Risk Management Masterclass.
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Video: A Nitrofurantoin Problem
A doctor's failure to link raised ALT levels with a patient's use of nitrofurantoin led to a complaint being brought against them. Watch this short video to find out how the situation arose and advice Medical Protection gave.
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Why the way errors are investigated needs to change
Adult safeguarding and confidentiality – disclosing information to th...
Adult safeguarding and confidentiality – disclosing information to the Office of the Public Guardian
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
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A tale of two doctors: the junior and the consultant
Dr Marika Davies, medicolegal consultant, looks at the recent case of GA v Greater Glasgow Health Board [2019] CSOH 31, where the death of a 77-year-old patient raised questions over where the liability for the negligence lay: the junior doctor or the consultant?
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