At a House of Commons Adjournment debate yesterday, the Medical Protection Society’s (MPS) concerns that the Medical Innovation Bill is unnecessary and could increase uncertainty were raised.1
These concerns were highlighted by the Chair of Health Select Committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, who also questioned one of the key reasons for the Bill being to reduce medical litigation, and made clear that MPS believes there is no need for it.
Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, Medicolegal Adviser at MPS said: “We are pleased to see that the ‘Saatchi Bill’ has ignited a debate in the House of Commons. Fundamentally, current law already allows doctors acting responsibly to innovate, and this Bill is unnecessary.
“We have serious concerns that this Bill could give false reassurance to some doctors and hinder current responsible innovation, which in turn would damage the doctor-patient relationship.
“The fear of litigation being a key reason for the Bill is entirely at odds with MPS’s experience of clinical negligence issues. We have never previously been made aware of any concerns that doctors are failing to be innovative due to a fear of clinical negligence claims.
“The time has come for the debate to shift towards improving education about the present law, rather than confusing the law through a new piece of legislation.”
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