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.

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.

When Mrs C, a keen golfer in her early forties, began to experience constant pain in her lower back, she consulted a GP at her local surgery. Dr P took a history of slow onset of pain with restricted mobility. He did not examine her, but prescribed an NSAID and advised Mrs C to return in two weeks if there was no improvement.

An elderly patient dies after his prescription goes uncollected. Who is at fault – the GP or the patient’s care home? Medical Protection assisted a member at the resulting inquest.

Dr T’s deskilling in resuscitation leads to a patient death and a claim.

This psychiatric claim underlines the perils of treating those close to you.