A doctor's failure to link raised ALT levels with a patient's use of nitrofurantoin led to a complaint being brought against them. Watch this short video to find out how the situation arose and advice Medical Protection gave.

A common cause of claims at Medical Protection is injection errors. While generally low in value, they frequently cause anxiety to patients and clinicians, and are easily avoided. Dr Dawn McGuire, Medical Claims Adviser at Medical Protection, looks at some typical cases.

A patient alleges her GP was negligent for failing to prescribe antibiotics

Miss G was a 36-year-old medical receptionist who worked in a teaching hospital. She was under the care of a haematologist for chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, diagnosed when she was 13. She had a BMI of 42 and no other relevant past medical history.

Mr A was a 25-year-old man who was on lifelong steroid medication for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. He was under the care of Dr F, a consultant endocrinologist.

Following a hospital admission for status epilepticus, which was attributed to a previous cerebral insult, Mr G, a 35-year-old clerical officer, was started on an anticonvulsant regime of phenytoin and sodium valproate.

Mrs L, a teacher, was first prescribed the oral contraceptive pill microgynon by her GP, Dr G, when she was 17. Her blood pressure was taken and recorded as normal. At this time, no other mention was made in the records of her risk profile or family history.

This Essential Guide to Clinical Management was produced as a resource for Medical Protection members in the UK. It is intended as general guidance only.

Why are medicolegal issues important?

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 has been estimated at more than £750 million per year. This factsheet gives advice about avoiding prescribing errors.

Medication errors make up a fifth of all errors occurring in general practice and many of these are preventable. Extra care must be taken when repeat prescribing, especially if you were not the original prescriber and have not seen the patient. This factsheet outlines the pitfalls, and gives advice on avoiding errors.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (2001), GPs have a responsibility for controlled drugs (CDs) within their practice. This factsheet highlights what you should be aware of when carrying, storing and recording controlled drugs.