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Articles and features 02/04/2014

Top five medicolegal hazards for junior doctors

Top five medicolegal hazards for junior doctors

Time to read article: 4 mins
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Good doctors apply clinical knowledge in a way that is legally and ethically correct – but all doctors can slip up. Here are survival tips for the top five medicolegal risks for junior doctors, writes Charlotte Hudson

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Factsheet 01/04/2014

Raising concerns and whistleblowing - Wales

Raising concerns and whistleblowing - Wales

Time to read article: 3 mins
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One of the most difficult situations faced by any clinician is when you are concerned that a colleague’s behaviour, health or professional performance may be placing patients at risk. This factsheet outlines your duty to raise concerns when patients may be at risk of harm.

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Articles and features 04/01/2014

Collateral damage

Collateral damage

Time to read article: 6 mins
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The sooner you call MPS about an ethical or legal dilemma, the sooner the matter can be resolved. Professor Carol Seymour, Dr Tom Mosedale, Dr Richard Brittain and Sara Williams explore how and why Collateral-damage foundation doctors get into troubleCollateral-damage foundation doctors get into trouble

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Casebook 01/01/2014

Anatomy of a claim

Anatomy of a claim

Time to read article: 7 mins
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The path of a clinical negligence claim is often long and complex. The eventual outcome is affected by a number of key factors; MPS claims manager and solicitor Antoinette Coltsmann takes an in-depth look at a recent MPS case.

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Articles and features 01/12/2013

Case study - Disclosure after a patient's death

Case study - Disclosure after a patient's death

Time to read article: 3 mins
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Fred had been my patient for a few years but died in November 2011. Fiona, who is the eldest daughter of Fred, is also my patient and was her father’s main carer. Fred was due to take a holiday over Christmas in 2011, so Fiona wanted to cancel the holiday and make a claim on the holiday insurance policy that Fred took out in December 2009.

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Factsheet 01/10/2013

Report writing - Northern Ireland

Report writing - Northern Ireland

Time to read article: 3 mins
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One incident can be investigated in a number of different ways – as a complaint, a clinical negligence claim, a criminal case, a disciplinary matter by your employer, a Coroner’s inquest or a complaint to the GMC. An important starting point is your written report on the circumstances of the incident. This factsheet gives more information about writing this report.

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Factsheet 01/08/2013

Parental responsibility - Wales

Parental responsibility - Wales

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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Factsheet 01/05/2013

Confidentiality – Disclosures without consent - Northern Ireland

Confidentiality – Disclosures without consent - Northern Ireland

Time to read article: 4 mins
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Certain circumstances can mean you are obliged to disclose information about a patient, even if you do not have their consent; under other circumstances, disclosure may be justifiable. This factsheet gives you further information about these circumstances.

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01/05/2013

Access to medical reports

Access to medical reports

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.

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Factsheet 01/04/2013

Guide to writing expert reports - Scotland

Guide to writing expert reports - Scotland

Time to read article: 1 mins
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As an expert you should be aiming to produce a report which is free standing – from which the reader can glean the key issues in the case, understand the evidence available and reach a clear understanding of the range of expert opinion, without needing to look at any other document.

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Factsheet 01/04/2013

Safeguarding children - Scotland

Safeguarding children - Scotland

Time to read article: 4 mins
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The GMC states that “Whether or not you have vulnerable children or young people as patients, you should consider their needs and welfare and offer them help if you think their rights have been abused or denied.” Surgery consultations, home visits, accident and emergency admissions and contact with other professionals who work with children help to build up a picture of a child’s situation.

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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 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

Time to read article: 5 mins
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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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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
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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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