Does Your Doctor or Dentist have Medical Negligence Cover?
Incredibly, while Professional Indemnity Insurance to cover medical negligence is compulsory for many health workers in the UK including optometrists, chiropractors and chiropodists, there is no such requirement for GPs, Doctors or Dentists!
Dentists and Doctors should be legally forced to purchase this PI cover to protect the public and safeguard the interests of patients, according to the Medical Defence Union chief executive Dr Christine Tomkins. The MDU was founded in 1885 as a mutual insurance company and members led medical defence organisation, to help Doctors if they are charged with Medical Negligence claims. Dentists were allowed to join back in 1948. the organisation represents the interest of over fifty percent of the Doctors in the Uk and thirty percent of Dentists.
Under a discretionary policy there is nocontractual guarantee that a member would be indemnified in the event of a negligence claim. On average the organisation challenges 70% of claims made against its members each year.
“i think the man in the street would be be horrified if he heard that his doctor was not covered and neither were his patients”, said Tomklins whose organisation defends claims made against it’s medical practioner members.
The Department of Health is currently reviewing the situation regarding professional indemnity insurance fotr doctors and is expected to report it’s findings early next year.
Yet another reason to consider private health insurance where doctors are are covered if you need to make a negligence claim!
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