Results risks: new technologies in practice
Those of you who have been following our risk blogs will know that MDDUS analysis of GP claims shows that the primary cause of patient harm is related to missed or delayed diagnosis. In general practice a contributory factor is often a missed, or mishandled, result.
Risk in practice: treating friends and family
It is not unusual for family and friends to ask for medical-related “favours”, often wrapped up with a degree of emotional blackmail, intended or otherwise. Generally doctors are a sympathetic group and can find such requests difficult to refuse, even in the knowledge that treating family and friends is frowned upon.
Risk Management: Sports Medicine at the Games
With the overwhelming success of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games still fresh in our minds, now is a good time to mention that the medical services provided at the Games were also heralded as the ‘best ever’ by Dr Jegathesan the Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Errors in diagnosis and why doctors make them
We all know that mistakes can happen in medical practice and thanks to our ‘cause of loss’ analysis we now have a greater insight into the nature of these errors. Our research recently revealed that a whopping 60 per cent of MDDUS negligence claims against GPs are related to a failure to diagnose.
Primary Care Claims: missed diagnosis due to failure to act on results
A recent blog from MDDUS risk adviser, Alan Frame, identified the most common area of claim in primary care as the diagnosis and investigation of presenting symptoms – accounting for 67 per cent of claims.As part of our analysis of these cases, I am currently reviewing a GP claim centering around a missed diagnosis which highlights this all too clearly
How safe is your telephone triage system?
A case spanning primary and secondary care was reported in the news this month involving the avoidable death of a three-year-old child from sepsis.
Notes from a smaller island (with apologies to Bill Bryson)
For those of you that don’t know, Guernsey is a small island with a population of approximately 63,500 people, an independent government and numerous distinctive blue post boxes. The small population and relative isolation means that patients, their relatives and friends are often seen socially or may work in the hospital, and questions about “my mother” or “my friend” or “my work colleague”are not unusual for doctors and other healthcare professionals.
Reduce complaints by increasing positivity
How happy are you today? Have you considered how much the people around you influence the way you feel?It turns out other people’s emotions have a huge impact on our emotions – and on risk!
Multiple risk areas in practice
Following Alan’s recent blog ‘Where do claims occur in primary care?’, I thought it might be interesting to highlight a recent MDDUS case that demonstrates just how a combination of circumstances can result in a tragic outcome and subsequent claim for damages.
Plastic surgeons – time to check your patient brochures?
Have you heard the latest from the Court of Appeal?