Articles and features 19/01/2021 Data breaches – are you covered? Preview Article Data breaches – are you covered? Time to read article: 2 mins () ★ Close Preview Data breaches are a common cause of claims but the indemnity issues surrounding them can be complex. Dr Dawn McGuire, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, looks at a case and explains more. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Data Protection Claims
Articles and features 19/11/2020 Storing images in medical records Preview Article Storing images in medical records Time to read article: 3 mins () ★ Close Preview 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. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Confidentiality Record keeping Consent Data Protection
Factsheet 19/12/2018 Record-keeping Preview Article Record-keeping Time to read article: 2 mins () ★ Close Preview Good medical records – whether electronic or handwritten – are essential for the continuity of care of your patients. Adequate medical records enable you or somebody else to reconstruct the essential parts of each patient contact without reference to memory. They should therefore be comprehensive enough to allow a colleague to carry on where you left off. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Wales Scotland England Northern Ireland Record keeping Data Protection
Case report 14/08/2018 The challenges of making a challenge Preview Article The challenges of making a challenge Time to read article: 3 mins () ★ Close Preview A patient’s solicitor sought disclosure of a GMC expert report after a case had been closed. Medical Protection successfully challenged this, only for the decision to be overturned at appeal. Kirsty Sharp, content editor at Medical Protection, looks at the challenges of making a challenge Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Generic Medicine Expert Reports Data Protection Complaints
Factsheet 27/04/2018 The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Preview Article The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Time to read article: 16 mins () ★ Close Preview From 25 May 2018, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (1) will come into force and will have a direct effect in every EU country. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Confidentiality Scotland Medical Records England Data Protection Record keeping
Articles and features 25/08/2017 General confidentiality principles as advised by medical defence orga... Preview Article General confidentiality principles as advised by medical defence organisations Time to read article: 2 mins () ★ Close Preview 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 Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Communicate Confidentiality Data Protection
Factsheet 20/05/2015 Access to medical reports - England Preview Article Access to medical reports - England Time to read article: 3 mins () ★ Close Preview Doctors may, on occasion, receive a request from a patient’s employer for a medical report to be delivered directly to the HR department, without the patient seeing it. However, before any medical report can be provided, you must be satisfied that the patient has given valid consent to the release of the information. This factsheet looks at the issues surrounding medical reports for employers and other organisations, and offers advice to doctors who are asked to write reports. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... England Generic Medicine Data Protection GP locum Practice management Managing clinical risk
Factsheet 02/02/2015 Access to health records - Scotland Preview Article Access to health records - Scotland Time to read article: 4 mins () ★ Close Preview Providing access to medical records is essentially a confidentiality issue; therefore, the starting point is whether or not the patient has consented to disclosure. If not, access should be denied, unless there is some other clear justification for allowing access. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk Ethics Scotland Generic Medicine Patients Consent
Factsheet 30/01/2015 Access to health records - Northern Ireland Preview Article Access to health records - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 4 mins () ★ Close Preview Providing access to medical records is essentially a confidentiality issue; therefore, the starting point is whether or not the patient has consented to disclosure. If not, access should be denied, unless there is some other clear justification for allowing access. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Medical Records Confidentiality Northern Ireland Ethics Managing clinical risk Generic Medicine
Factsheet 22/01/2015 Access to health records Preview Article Access to health records Time to read article: 4 mins () ★ Close Preview Patients have a right to request access to their own medical records and can also provide consent for disclosure to third parties. You have a duty to protect the confidential data of your patients under the Data Protection Act (1998) and civil monetary penalties can be imposed for serious contraventions of the act. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Communicate Medical Records Managing clinical risk Consent Data Protection Generic Medicine
Factsheet 22/01/2015 Safe prescribing - Northern Ireland Preview Article Safe prescribing - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 3 mins () ★ Close Preview Medication errors account for approximately 20% of all clinical negligence claims against doctors in both primary and secondary care. The costs associated with adverse events and inappropriate prescribing have been estimated at more than £750 million per year. This factsheet gives advice about avoiding prescribing errors. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Claims Managing clinical risk Data Protection Record keeping Generic Medicine Negligence
Factsheet 14/01/2015 Confidentiality – General principles - Wales Preview Article Confidentiality – General principles - Wales Time to read article: 5 mins () ★ Close Preview Confidentiality is at the centre of maintaining trust between patients and doctors. As a doctor, you have access to sensitive personal information about patients and you have a legal and ethical duty to keep this information confidential, unless the patient consents to the disclosure, disclosure is required by law or is necessary in the public interest. This factsheet sets out the basic principles of confidentiality. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Issues & conflict management Use Guidelines Consent General practice Wales Data Protection
Factsheet 14/01/2015 Confidentiality – General principles - Scotland Preview Article Confidentiality – General principles - Scotland Time to read article: 6 mins () ★ Close Preview Confidentiality is at the centre of maintaining trust between patients and doctors. As a doctor, you have access to sensitive personal information about patients and you have a legal and ethical duty to keep this information confidential, unless the patient consents to the disclosure; disclosure is required by law or is necessary in the public interest. This factsheet sets out the basic principles of confidentiality. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... General practice Consent Managing clinical risk Ethics Use Guidelines Issues & conflict management
Factsheet 14/01/2015 Confidentiality – General principles - Northern Ireland Preview Article Confidentiality – General principles - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 6 mins () ★ Close Preview Confidentiality is at the centre of maintaining trust between patients and doctors. As a doctor, you have access to sensitive personal information about patients and you have a legal and ethical duty to keep this information confidential, unless the patient consents to the disclosure; disclosure is required by law or is necessary in the public interest. This factsheet sets out the basic principles of confidentiality. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Wales GP locum Issues & conflict management Data Protection Managing clinical risk General practice
Factsheet 03/11/2014 Communicating with patients by fax and email - England Preview Article Communicating with patients by fax and email - England Time to read article: 3 mins () ★ Close Preview Electronic communication can provide a useful and alternative point of access for patients. However, you should ensure that, if sensitive information needs to be sent electronically, safeguards are in place to avoid breaching patient confidentiality. This factsheet sets out the potential risks of electronic communication. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... General practice Communicate Data Protection Practice management Managing clinical risk England
Factsheet 01/10/2014 Safeguarding children FAQs - Scotland Preview Article Safeguarding children FAQs - Scotland Time to read article: 3 mins () ★ Close Preview The GMC states that “doctors play a crucial role in protecting children from abuse and neglect”. Child maltreatment includes neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. The following frequently asked questions are designed to advise MPS members what to do and who to contact, should they suspect children are at risk of, or are experiencing, harm. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Medicine student Consent Confidentiality Managing clinical risk Ethics Professionalism
Factsheet 01/07/2014 Use of social media - Wales Preview Article Use of social media - Wales Time to read article: 4 mins () ★ Close Preview The General Medical Council (GMC) guidelines Doctors’ use of social media establish the standards expected from every doctor practising in the UK. The guide details the principles of conduct for using social media and explains how doctors can put these principles into practice. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Reputation management Confidentiality Communicate Ethics Consent Professionalism
Articles and features 02/06/2014 The risks of using online storage devices for patient data Preview Article The risks of using online storage devices for patient data Time to read article: 2 mins () ★ Close Preview Medicolegal adviser and MPS spokesperson, Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, highlights security as an issue with saving patient records online Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Data Protection Managing clinical risk
Factsheet 01/05/2014 Reporting gunshot and knife wounds - Scotland Preview Article Reporting gunshot and knife wounds - Scotland Time to read article: 1 mins () ★ Close Preview Supplementary GMC guidance to Confidentiality (2009) contains information for healthcare professionals on what to do when reporting gunshot and knife wounds. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Confidentiality Data Protection Ethics Consent Managing clinical risk Scotland
Factsheet 01/05/2014 Raising concerns and whistleblowing - Scotland Preview Article Raising concerns and whistleblowing - Scotland Time to read article: 3 mins () ★ Close Preview One of the most difficult situations faced by any clinician is when you are concerned that a colleague’s behaviour, health or professional performance may be placing patients at risk. This factsheet outlines your duty to raise concerns when patients may be at risk of harm. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Generic Medicine Competence Communicate Professionalism Data Protection Negligence
Articles and features 01/12/2013 Online medical records Preview Article Online medical records Time to read article: 4 mins () ★ Close Preview All GPs will be expected to provide patients with online access to their medical records by 2015, but not everyone believes it is a good idea. Dr Amir Hannan shares how Haughton Thornley Medical Centre approached online access to records and how their patients responded. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing clinical risk General practice Data Protection Practice Matters
Factsheet 01/04/2013 Safeguarding children FAQs - Wales Preview Article Safeguarding children FAQs - Wales Time to read article: 3 mins () ★ Close Preview The GMC states that “doctors play a crucial role in protecting children from abuse and neglect”. Child maltreatment includes neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. The following frequently asked questions are designed to advise MPS members what to do and who to contact, should they suspect children are at risk of, or are experiencing, harm. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Generic Medicine Wales Data Protection Patients Ethics
Factsheet 01/04/2013 Safeguarding children - Scotland Preview Article Safeguarding children - Scotland Time to read article: 4 mins () ★ Close Preview The GMC states that “Whether or not you have vulnerable children or young people as patients, you should consider their needs and welfare and offer them help if you think their rights have been abused or denied.” Surgery consultations, home visits, accident and emergency admissions and contact with other professionals who work with children help to build up a picture of a child’s situation. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Consent Data Protection Scotland Confidentiality Ethics Generic Medicine
Factsheet 04/01/2013 Safeguarding children FAQs - Northern Ireland Preview Article Safeguarding children FAQs - Northern Ireland Time to read article: 3 mins () ★ Close Preview The GMC states that “doctors play a crucial role in protecting children from abuse and neglect”. Child maltreatment includes neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. The following frequently asked questions are designed to advise MPS members what to do and who to contact, should they suspect children are at risk of, or are experiencing, harm. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Data Protection Patients Northern Ireland Use Guidelines Issues & conflict management Consent