Private consultant

As a hospital doctor, you will be covered by NHS indemnity for work undertaken within your NHS contract. If, however, you were involved in disciplinary issues, General Medical Council (GMC)/General Dental Council (GDC) referrals, fatal accident inquiries or coroner's inquests, you would not receive any assistance. In situations like this, which can have a serious impact on your career and ultimately result in you being struck off, MDDUS membership provides you with access to expert support and advice. The MDDUS advisory and legal teams have years of experience and clinical knowledge from which you can benefit.

No. The NHS will not assist you if you're involved in a GMC or GDC matter. It's important to remember that the GMC/GDC has the power to suspend you, place restrictions on your practice, issue you with a warning and ultimately erase you from the register. With such potentially severe consequences, there are many advantages to having representation and assistance from the MDDUS whose focus will be to ensure that your case is dealt with fairly and efficiently.

Criticisms made at an inquiry or inquest can lead to a GMC/GDC or criminal matter being raised against you.  Due to the potential of such a serious outcome it is important to have the support and guidance of an MDDUS adviser who can advise you on how to conduct yourself throughout this formal, and often daunting, process. At MDDUS, we have retained some of the UK's leading medico-legal and dento-legal solicitors, which means we can instruct the best legal representation. As an MDDUS member, this representation is available to you free of charge.

MDDUS membership provides occurrence-based indemnity. This means that you are eligible for assistance for all events that occur while you are a member, regardless of when an actual claim is made. You will enjoy the full support of the MDDUS even if you have moved abroad, ceased clinical work or retired. Your estate will likewise be supported after your death.  Insurance products operate in a completely different way; they usually only guarantee protection if you are insured, both when the incident occurred and when the claim is made.  The crucial importance of this lies in the fact that medical and dental malpractice claims can be made several months or even years after the events that give rise to the claim.

It is our understanding that your previous defence organisation will continue to protect you for time spent with them as a member, should any case arise after you leave them.  For your own peace of mind, you should confirm this with them.