Fatal outcome after chest drain error
Mrs A, was admitted for a triple coronary artery bypass graft operation for her NSTEMI. She had a past medical history of thoracic (T9-T10) spinal fusion for fractures secondary to a viral illness more than 20 years ago.
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Alleged failure to diagnose perforated uterus
Record keeping plays a major role in the development of this case, which sees GP Dr O receive a clinical negligence claim following the insertion of an IUCD.
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The importance of good record keeping
Julie Baylis, Case Manager at Medical Protection, looks at a recent High Court case and how it underlined the importance of good quality medical records.
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Reinventing record keeping with GPConsult
We all know the importance of keeping good records, and now GPConsult.co.uk makes it easier than ever for doctors to make clear, timely patient notes. GP Dr Rima Aboud talks about her experience with record keeping and how this new resource can help.
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Missed diagnosis during colonoscopy
GP Dr D and consultant gastroenterologist Dr B face a claim after an abandoned colonoscopy fails to pick up the required diagnosis. Medical Protection handles the case.
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Missed critical limb ischaemia
Mr S was a 60-year-old lorry driver. He was overweight and smoked, and couldn’t walk far because he suffered with pain in his calves.
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The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
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.
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Failure to review nitrofurantoin: hepatitis and rash
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Delayed diagnosis of Achilles tendon rupture
Mr E, a 50-year-old accountant, was playing squash with a colleague after work and hurt his left ankle. He couldn’t keep playing but he was able to walk, so he went home. The next day his ankle became quite swollen, so Mr E kept it on ice and took some ibuprofen...
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Sciatic nerve injury but no negligence
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Wrong drug, no negligence
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.
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GP entry study guide
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.
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Consent – The basics - Northern Ireland
Respect for patients’ autonomy is expressed in consent law; to impose care or treatment on people without respecting their wishes and right to self-determination is not only unethical, but illegal. The approach to consent in Northern Ireland is currently governed by common law.
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Medical records - Northern Ireland
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.
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Confidentiality – Disclosures relating to patients who are unable to consent - Wales
You owe a duty of confidentiality to all your patients, past or present, even if they are adults who lack capacity. You may be asked to provide information from the medical records of patients who are incapable of giving consent, are aged under 18, or have died. This factsheet gives you further information about dealing with these circumstances.
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Medical records - Scotland
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.
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Consent – The basics - Scotland
Respect for patients’ autonomy is expressed in consent law; to impose care or treatment on people without respecting their wishes and right to self-determination is not only unethical, but illegal.
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Consent – The basics - Scotland
Respect for patients autonomy is expressed in consent law; to impose care or treatment on people without respecting their wishes and right to self-determination is not only unethical, but illegal.
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Access to medical reports - England
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.
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A malignant lesion
Mr M, a 44-year-old architect, attended his GP, Dr C, for a skin check. Dr C diagnosed a papilloma on his right chest wall as well as a seborrhoeic keratosis skin lesion of the upper left arm.
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Medical records - Wales
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.
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Access to health records - Scotland
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.
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Report writing - Scotland
One incident can be investigated in a number of different ways – as a complaint, a clinical negligence claim, a criminal case, a disciplinary matter by your employer, a Procurator Fiscal’s FAI or a complaint to the GMC. An important starting point is your written report on the circumstances of the incident. This factsheet gives more information about writing this report.
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