Booklets and handbooks

Practical advice on a variety of important medicolegal issues for doctors in the UK. 

These booklets and handbooks are produced as a resource for MPS members in the UK. They are intended as general guidance only.

MPS members are always welcome to telephone our medicolegal advice line – 0845 605 4000 – for more specific practical advice and support with medicolegal issues that may arise.

Alternatively, members may submit a medicolegal query online.

Booklets

Concise information of important medicolegal issues. Please select a booklet from the list below:

• A Culture of Openness – An MPS perspective
  This booklet sets out why we believe that a cultural shift is needed to achieve greater openness and trust with patients
       
• A Guide for Doctors on Handling the Media
  Advice for doctors on how to deal with attention from the media 
        
• A Guide to MPS membership
  An overview about MPS membership for all UK members
     
• Avoiding easy mistakes: Five medicolegal hazards for junior doctors
  An overview of the top five medicolegal hazards faced by junior doctors in everyday practice
         
• Common Problems – Managing the risks in general practice
  A guide for doctors in the early years of general practice
     
• Common Problems – Managing the risks in hospital practice
  A guide for doctors in the early years of hospital practice
      
• Consent to Medical Treatment in the UK
  An overview of how to obtain valid consent from patients
     
• Medical records – An MPS guide
  An overview of keeping good quality records
       
• NHS Complaints in England
  A full overview of the regulations governing NHS complaint handling that came into effect in April 2009
      
• Resolving complaints – The Wider Picture 
  Our guide to dealing with complaints follows the principles set out in Principles of Good Complaint Handling by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman for England 
      
• Resolving complaints – Case study
  An example of how the principles of good complaints handling can be put into practice
      
• Signposting the CQC: Understanding your new registration
  A guide to assist doctors in meeting the CQC requirements.
   

Handbooks

More in-depth information for members in the UK. Please select a handbook from the list below:

• F2s in General Practice: An MPS Guide
  Advice on moving from a hospital to a GP rotation in your second foundation year
     
• GP Compass
  Comprehensive advice on avoiding medicolegal hazards in general practice
     
• MPS Guide to Ethics – A map for the moral maze [requires sign-in]
  Twelve chapters covering the ethical principles that frame modern healthcare
      
• Preparing for your F1 post
  Information for doctors about to start their first foundation year, drawing on the experiences of other doctors and advice from our risk management professionals
      
• Taking Care: Making the Most of Your Consultant Post 
  Practical ideas and guidance for new consultants.