Medical Defence Union Advice Line The First Call For Members, UK
August 14th, 2008 | by admin |Disclosing information about a child to an estranged parent; whether to inform the police that a patient with diabetes was continuing to drive despite being warned not to; and a patient refusing treatment following a paracetamol overdose were just some of the 25,000 calls to the Medical Defence Union (MDU) 24-hour advice line last year, revealed in the MDU’s Annual Report and Accounts 2007* published recently.
Dr Peter Schütte, head of advisory services said: “The medico-legal environment our members work in is increasingly complex and doctors are more aware of the potential medico-legal problems they face. This is perhaps why around 40 per cent of calls to our advice line were from members requesting pre-emptive help with ethical and legal matters. We see this as an extension of clinical risk management as, through our advice, members are often able to avoid difficulties and to resolve concerns at an early stage.
“At the same time, we are also assisting far more doctors with extensive investigations and inquiries into their practice. This is not an indication of lower clinical standards, quite the opposite, but shows that doctors are increasingly called to account, and in more ways than any other professionals. For example, they are often subject to more than one investigation after just one adverse incident.
“While it is important to investigate anything that might cause concern about a doctor’s practice, we see at first hand how stressful it can be for our members. Those who are the subject of a prolonged GMC investigation may face two or three Interim Orders Panel hearings, followed by a Fitness to Practise hearing, followed perhaps a year later by a review Fitness to Practise hearing before conditions placed on registration are amended. Such an ordeal is still rare, but a letter from the GMC is, understandably, unsettling and members we are assisting can count on the support and medico-legal expertise of an MDU adviser at every stage. It may be even more reassuring to know that the outcome of cases handled by the MDU compares favourably with the figures published by the GMC in overall terms. For example, in 2007, the Case Examiners in the early stage of a GMC investigation concluded 42 percent of all the cases it considered whereas for MDU-assisted cases the equivalent figure was 55 per cent.”
Elsewhere in the Annual Report, MDU head of claims, Jill Harding reveals that while the number of claims has reduced slightly compared to previous years, they are still increasing in complexity and value although 70 per cent of claims notified to the MDU are discontinued or successfully defended on members’ behalf. “If it becomes apparent a claim cannot be defended successfully,” Jill explains, “the MDU claims department makes every effort to settle these cases as quickly as possible so that patients or their families receives their rightful compensation without undue delay. Twenty-five per cent of settled cases are concluded by our expert claims handlers, with the agreement of the member, without the need to instruct a solicitor”.
This year’s Annual Report also incorporates Cautionary Tales, a selection of 20 MDU cases which illustrate the kinds of advisory and claims files where the MDU is able to offer help and support, as well as medico-legal expertise, to our members. They include a mix up of blood samples; a request from a dying patient not to record that he had AIDS on his death certificate; and a clinical negligence claim following a medication error. Dr Michael Saunders, MDU Chief Executive said: “We know from the feedback we get from members that they enjoy reading these case histories but we also think they provide food for thought as they are a useful way of shedding light on how doctors might approach some of the common dilemmas they face in practice. We hope they will reinforce the message that if in doubt, members should see the MDU as their first line of defence and seek advice from the MDU at the earliest opportunity.”
* Copies of the MDU Annual Report Accounts 2007, including Cautionary Tales are sent to all MDU members. Copies of Cautionary Tales are available as a PDF on request and the whole report can be accessed at http://www.the-mdu.com
The MDU is a mutual, not for profit, organisation owned by our members who include over 50 per cent of the UK’s hospital doctors and GPs. Established in 1885, we were the world’s first medical defence organisation. We defend the professional reputations of our members when their clinical performance is called into question. Our benefits of membership include insurance for claims of clinical negligence and a wide range of medico-legal advisory services. This email may contain privileged and confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient and/or have received this email in error, please notify us by return email and delete it from your system immediately.
MDU Services Limited (MDUSL) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in respect of insurance mediation activities only. MDUSL is an agent for The Medical Defence Union Limited (the MDU). The MDU is not an insurance company. The benefits of membership of the MDU are all discretionary and are subject to the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Neither the MDU nor MDU Services Limited accept service of any documents by email or electronic means.
MDU Services Limited is registered in England 3957086. Registered Office: 230 Blackfriars Road London SE1 8PJ.
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