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.

A case study looking at post-surgery complications. It is important to acknowledge patient dissatisfaction and agree a plan for ongoing care.

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

Baby T was eight weeks old when his mother brought him to his GP’s morning surgery. His mother had become increasingly concerned about his general irritability and frequent crying episodes, which lasted up to two hours. These had become apparent over the past three days, not settling with breast feeding.