Sarah Pickering, advisory case manager at Medical Protection, considers a recent member query in relation to this complex and sensitive area.

It is very unusual for a clinical negligence claim to reach the highest reaches of the court system. Rarer still are cases involving non-clinical staff such as receptionists. Dr James Lucas, medicolegal consultant, discusses such a case that was recently considered by the Supreme Court and extracts potential learning points for practices.1

A patient re-presents with urinary tract infections over a 15-year period, and eventually makes a claim against the genitourinary consultant involved in her care.

Misplaced blood test results lead to a claim after a baby is left requiring a liver transplant.

When a routine optician appointment identifies papilloedema, Mrs T makes a claim against her GP for not giving her an earlier urgent referral.

Basic safety checks were overlooked in this incident, which saw a claim against a consultant gynaecologist.

The quality record-keeping of a GP member is key to the defence of this claim.

A patient makes a claim against an anaesthetist member following intra-operative accidental awareness, which she alleged resulted in psychiatric injury.