Why are medicolegal issues important?

Dr W faces a regulatory hearing after a delayed diagnosis – find out how record-keeping helped the defence.

Ophthalmologist Dr P receives a claim alleging poor consent and technique – but is that the real cause?

Treatment of an itchy rash leads to a claim against GP Dr U, but was he negligent?

After a serious car crash, Dr C is called before an inquest – Medical Protection is called in to support.

A patient presents with a sore wrist after a fall.

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.

Mr X, a 25-year-old fit and active man, was reviewed by his GP, Dr A, with a recurrence of lower back pain. He had noticed lumbar back pain intermittently throughout his 20s, but played a lot of sports to which he attributed his symptoms.

Ms Q, 58 years old, consulted Dr G, a gastroenterologist, with a history of dyspepsia, early satiety and altered bowel habit. Clinical examination, including digital rectal examination, was recorded as normal...

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

Medical Protection’s Medicolegal Adviser Dr Clare Redmond discusses how to manage a situation where a patient asks to be discharged

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.

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