Who?
We offer access to professionally trained advisers 24 hours a day – 365 days a year – and legal support and indemnity against claims of negligence.
What?
We exist to support and protect healthcare professionals throughout their career.
Why?
MDDUS was established in 1902 by a group of doctors and dentists concerned by an increasing number of clinical negligence cases being pursued in the courts.
Benefits of membership
MDDUS offers support and discounts throughout your student career
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Free access to YourHalo
Counselling and wellbeing service that is available 24/7. Provided in partnership with external healthcare professionals.
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24/7 Doctor for Doctor SupportExpert ethical and professional advice from experienced medico-legal advisers. We are here for you 24/7
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Educational eventsTo request support for educational events, contact marketing@mddus.com
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Learning resourcesAccess to case studies, online courses, webinars and more to aid your development as a medical professional.
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Book discountsDiscounts of up to 35% with well-known medical and dental publishers.
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Good Samaritans ActsDiscretionary indemnity for Good Samaritan Acts worldwide.
Free elective cover
If you’re going on elective, either in the UK or abroad, it’s important to arrange your indemnity. As a UK based student member you can register for FREE worldwide elective indemnity which will provide you with a range of benefits for the duration of your placement, including access to assistance with:
• university fitness to practise (FTP)
• medico-legal issues
• Good Samaritan acts.
To apply for elective indemnity, please download and fill in the application form below. Or, simply contact our team with details of when and where your elective is taking place. (Please note indemnity is not available for elective work in Australia.)
MDDUS has been very supportive and gave me great advice. It is the best indemnity.
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How much would I be indemnified for?
MDDUS membership provides unlimited indemnity. Unlike conventional insurance products, we don't have exclusions that can result in claims being declined or excess payments required. Close -
If I am referred to the General Medical Council (GMC) or the General Dental Council (GDC) will the NHS offer me assistance?
CloseNo. 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.
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What are the advantages of having assistance from the MDDUS at a fatal accident inquiry or coroner's inquest?
CloseCriticisms 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.
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What are the benefits of a mutual organisation?
One of the most valuable benefits of a mutual organisation is that the MDDUS doesn't have shareholders and does not pay dividends to its members. That means all the income generated by subscriptions is invested back into the organisation and member services, and in the maintenance of a healthy reserve to cover legal costs and claims. This, coupled with our sound financial acumen, means that we maintain very competitive subscription rates and have built a financially strong organisation
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What's the difference between occurrence-based cover and claims-made cover?
CloseMDDUS 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.
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Why should I choose MDDUS for my professional indemnity?
MDDUS has been providing support and indemnity to medical and dental professionals for over 115 years. We pride ourselves on offering a quality, personalised service provided by our team of medico- and dento-legal advisers who are recognised as some of the leading UK experts in their field. Our members can enjoy the security and peace of mind which comes with receiving this high level of service at a competitive price. Our expertise has been invaluable in supporting our members when they need us.
Over the past 10 years, MDDUS has successfully defended more than 75 per cent of claims notified and, in the rare event of a case progressing to trial, the majority of our members are successfully defended. In 2011 more than 96 per cent of GMC complaints were resolved without the need to progress to a fitness to practise hearing.
We are proud to say that, in an independent survey carried out by market research firm GfK, MDDUS ranked highest of all UK mutual medical defence organisations for member satisfaction (online poll of 695 defence organisation members conduced by GfK, NOP May 2012; rating of satisfaction with overall services/resources provided).
MDDUS also enjoys a superior rating from Dun & Bradstreet, the leading global business information provider, which further underlines the financial strength of our organisation
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Would membership indemnify me to work throughout the UK?
MDDUS members are indemnified to work anywhere in the UK but not Gibraltar or the Falkland Islands. Should they wish to work in Guernsey then they should call our Membership Services team on 0333 043 0000 to discuss. Although we do not normally operate membership outside the UK, we do indemnify members for Good Samaritan acts anywhere in the world, which are not covered by any other indemnity or insurance arrangements.
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