Consent and record-keeping are at the heart of this claim, which sees a patient left paraplegic following an epidural.

Ms Q experienced a surgical complication while under the care of Dr G. In this video, find out how Medical Protection supported Dr G when Ms Q pursued a claim and made a complaint to the Medical Council.

A private neurosurgeon faces questions on consent, following a lumbar microdiscectomy sciatica and back pain.

A patient undergoing a colonoscopy claims her modesty is disregarded during the procedure. What did Medical Protection do to tackle this allegation?

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

Gross negligence manslaughter is a topical issue in healthcare, but cases against doctors are still comparatively rare. Dr John Jolly, head of member risk education and Dr Richard Stacey, head of policy and technical, look at a more common cause of criminal cases brought against members of Medical Protection: sexual assault.

Mrs B was a 57-year-old lady with a past history of breast cancer treated with mastectomy and adjuvant therapy. She re-presented to her consultant breast surgeon, Mr F, three years after the original surgery with a worrying 2cm lump in the vicinity of her mastectomy scar.

Mrs S was a 36-year-old patient diagnosed with a benign giant cell tumour of the sacrum. She was seen by Mr A, consultant in orthopaedic oncology, and listed for resection of the lesion.

A private neurosurgeon faces questions on consent, following a lumbar microdiscectomy sciatica and back pain

Why are medicolegal issues important?

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.