Top ten tips for doctors in training

1. Always ensure that you are appropriately indemnified.

2. Never work beyond or outwith your HPCSA registration – ie, do not locum while an intern or Community Service Medical Officer (or locum for a specialist while you are a registrar).

3. Do not delegate work to anybody unless you are sure that they are appropriately qualified and registered.

4. Know the limits of your knowledge, training and expertise, and seek assistance from a more qualified or experienced colleague when necessary.

5. Never ignore or prevaricate about a complaint – particularly if the complaint comes from your registering authority.

6. Ensure that you make good, contemporaneous medical notes. Litigation revolves around what can be shown to have happened (or not have happened), rather than around what actually happened. If for some reason the notes you make are not contemporaneous make absolutely sure that it is clear when the note is made and why information has been added after the event. Under no circumstances should you add information after the event, and pass it off as contemporaneous.

7. Never forget that clinical medicine revolves around patients and that patients are autonomous individuals who are entitled to make informed choices – even if their choices do not comply with your advice.

8. Avoid perverse incentives and kickbacks.

9. Avoid romantic involvement with patients.

10. In principle, perform intimate examinations in the presence of a chaperone.