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Patient B, a 70-year-old female, with a history of dementia, stroke and pneumonia, was admitted to the emergency room of a private hospital in a coma. She had advanced lung cancer and was well-known to the physician, Dr Y, who was called to see her.

A female patient at a medical centre consulted GP Dr F and was subsequently sent for further treatment at another department within the building.

Mrs Y, a 39-year-old chef, opted to M see consultant obstetrician Mr B for private antenatal care. It was her first pregnancy and other than a BMI of 30 she had no pre-existing medical problems.

A private neurosurgeon faces questions on consent, following a lumbar microdiscectomy sciatica and back pain

Mrs M was a 64-year-old care assistant in a retirement home. She visited her GP with a two-month history of blood in her stools, altered bowel habit, and intermittent lower abdominal discomfort.

General Practice remains one of the most popular of all the specialties, with about a quarter of all candidates ranking it as their top choice, and more than half likely to apply for it as one of their choices for specialty training.

Why are medicolegal issues important?