The month of November saw the hugely popular Medical Protection Society’s (MPS) ‘Ethics 4 All’ conferences held in Pretoria and Cape Town, with over 2,000 delegates in attendance over both sites.
The rising number of attendees at this annual conference is testament to the importance doctors place on discussing ethical practice
Now in its fourth year, the conference was held at two sites for the first time and has attracted the highest number of attendees in its history, with well over 1,000 health practitioners in Cape Town alone. It is believed to be one of the largest conferences of health practitioners in the southern hemisphere. The conferences focussed on the ethical challenges faced in medical practice.
Dr Graham Howarth, MPS’s Head of Medical Services, Africa, says: “With the increase in medical negligence claims that healthcare practitioners are being faced with in South Africa, it is important that simple, effective advice can be disseminated to doctors on how to avoid adverse outcomes.
“The rising number of attendees at this annual conference is testament to the importance doctors place on discussing ethical practice.
“Helping doctors understand the impact of their actions on their patients is important for them and those they care for.
Through open, high quality communication, doctors can both improve the patient experience, and minimise any potential complaints
“Through open, high quality communication, doctors can both improve the patient experience, and minimise any potential complaints. It’s the right thing to do, but it also generates the best outcomes.”
The presentations given this year were:
- My patient has suffered an adverse outcome! – How do I respond ethically? (Dr Mark O'Brien, International Programme Director, MPS Educational Services)
- Tensions in distributive justice: claims escalation – causes, consequences and questions (Dr Graham Howarth, Head of Medical Services - Africa, MPS)
- Historical Perspectives on Medical Negligence (Professor Pieter Carstens, University of Pretoria).
The conference is planned again next year for November.
Photos and a summary report of the Ethics 4 All Conference 2011 will be available soon on the MPS website.
MPS offers a range of educational workshops, conferences and materials, along with risk management tools.