Burden Of Regulation Reflected In Volume Of Calls To Medical Defence Union Helpline, UK
In its Annual Report for 2006*, which is published today, the MDU says it opposes any changes that would add to members' already substantial regulatory burden. If, in spite of all the opposition to the change, the civil standard is brought in for doctors, the MDU may need to consider the appropriate route for challenge on a case by case basis.
Dr Michael Saunders, MDU chief executive, said:
"Multiple jeopardy is the modern curse of the medical profession. One of the main concerns medico-legally over recent years is the increasing number of investigations and inquiries that doctors can face into a single incident. We support members at these difficult and stressful times and it is not uncommon for us to assist a doctor with an employer's disciplinary investigation, coroner's inquiry, police investigation, GMC complaint and medical negligence claim, all arising from the same facts. These investigations take several months, and even many years to resolve in some cases."
As well as responding to calls to its advisory helpline, the MDU also opened over 2,000 files to assist members with clinical negligence claims and its membership helpline received 134,000 calls during 2006. A new booklet entitled Cautionary Tales and Advice accompanies the Annual Report, and gives examples of MDU cases*.
2006 also saw the MDU settle a number of medical negligence claims in excess of £1 million on behalf of members. The highest of £3.3 million was to compensate a patient whose stroke was caused by negligence and who needed constant care for the rest of his life. The claims arose from general practice and independent hospital practice and one GP claim arose from an incident more than 20 years earlier. Dr Saunders commented:
"These figures illustrate that million pound claims are no longer a rarity and this is against a background in which the cost of settling claims is rising well above the rate of inflation. Despite the ever-increasing cost of claims, we remain the only medical defence organisation to provide members with the certainty of clinical negligence insurance. We believe that discretionary indemnity is no longer suitable in today's medico-legal climate and that the contractual guarantees offered by insurance are the only way doctors and their patients can be offered peace of mind."
-- * Copies of the MDU Report and Accounts 2006 and Cautionary Tales and Advice are sent to all MDU members. Media copies are available at http://www.the-mdu.com or as a PDF on request.
-- 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 indemnity for claims of clinical negligence and a wide range of medico-legal advisory services.
http://www.the-mdu.com
Sarcina din Regulamentul reflectat în volumul de apeluri la ajutor medical de apãrare a Uniunii, Marea Britanie - Burden Of Regulation Reflected In Volume Of Calls To Medical Defence Union Helpline, UK - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate