Clinical records, consent, confidentiality, communication, competence, and prescribing - what medical students and junior doctors need to know about these common medicolegal risk areas and how to avoid them.

The receipt and storage of images of patients is currently a common source of queries from our members, largely due to the increased use of remote consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ayisha Hooper, Case Manager at Medical Protection, reviews the relevant guidance.​

Medical Protection has received a number of calls from members asking how they should respond to parents of children with COVID-19 symptoms who are openly refusing to comply with government guidance on testing and self-isolation. Dr Clare Devlin, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, provides detailed advice

Dr Emma Davies, medicolegal consultant at Medical Protection, answers some questions around the professional and personal use of social media and the potential pitfalls faced by those working in healthcare

When approached by third party organisations with requests for information relating to a patient’s gender history, you might be uncertain about what to do and what should be considered prior to disclosure. Padma Reddy, case manager at Medical Protection, and Dr Heidi Mounsey, medicolegal consultant, have all the relevant guidance

Handling disclosure requests concerning children and young people can be a complex and emotive issue. Kate Cowan, case manager at Medical Protection, looks at the issue in more detail​

Fin Wright, case manager at Medical Protection, provides guidance to practices who are approached by the police regarding a disclosure of medical records

Ayisha Hooper, case manager at Medical Protection, looks at the reasons why practices can be approached by solicitors for the disclosure of medical records

Brian Caldwell-White, case manager at Medical Protection, provides guidance on handling requests to release the medical records of a deceased patient​

Medical Protection advice line often receives queries from doctors concerned about patients that are driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Kate Cowan, advisory case manager, shares our advice.

Situations where a doctor is both an employer and the treating clinician of a patient are problematic and should be avoided. Sarah Pickering, advisory case manager at Medical Protection, looks at a recent query from the advice line

Medical Protection’s expert consultants frequently deal with queries about patient confidentiality. However, few cases reach the steps of the courts. Dr James Lucas, medicolegal consultant, examines a recent High Court judgment in a neighbouring jurisdiction.

When investigating patient safety incidents, it is vital that this is done in an open and honest manner, without apportionment of blame. The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) has operated since 2017 but what should you do if you become part of an investigation? Sarah Pickering, advisory case manager at Medical Protection, finds out

Knowing when you can disclose sensitive patient information is a notoriously complex area. Sarah Pickering, advisory case manager at Medical Protection, considers some recent queries from members regarding disclosures to the Office of the Public Guardian

To mark the Dying Matters national awareness week, between 13 and 19 May, Medical Protection asked nearly 400 members in the UK about their experiences on a number of issues such as DNACPR, organ donation and withdrawal of treatment.

Confidentiality is at the centre of maintaining trust between patients and doctors. But what are your obligations to a patient after they have died?

Is the patient’s son entitled to access his mother’s confidential information? Where a patient lacks capacity clinicians should consider what action is in the patient’s best interests.

Are we obliged to facilitate a request for CCTV footage of the practice car park? You need to consider the confidentiality of other patients. Dr Rachel Birch, medicolegal consultant, answers a member’s query.

Being approached by the police can pose a dilemma: as a clinician, you have your own professional obligations. Dr Marika Davies, senior medicolegal adviser at Medical Protection, provides some clarity

Dr Hajra Siraj, GP registrar in London, shares a tricky case around assessing the competence of young people.

All doctors know that maintaining confidentiality is an important part of building up trust with patients. Here, Dr Stephanie Bown examines the medicolegal aspects of confidentiality