What is discretionary indemnity?

Understand the reality of what discretionary indemnity means for you

MDDUS was established in 1902 by a group of doctors and dentists as a mutual-membership organisation. Their model of discretionary indemnity has ensured the financial and legal security of the medical and dental profession for over 120 years.

In recent years corporate insurance providers have entered the clinical malpractice indemnity market. This has given rise to some common misconceptions about discretionary indemnity that we believe is important to clear up.

Our truth about discretionary indemnity vs common misconceptions

what is discretionary

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Frequently asked questions

What’s a Medical / Dental Defence Organisation (MDO / DDO)?
- Defence Organisations provide assistance to medical and dental professionals should they face any medicolegal or dentolegal problems throughout their career. This can include investigations, inquiries, complaints, disciplinaries and criminal proceedings relating to clinical practice.
- Defence Organisations also provide indemnity against clinical negligence claims that fall outside of the scope of any NHS indemnity schemes. This means healthcare professionals are financially protected if they are sued.
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What is discretionary indemnity?
- As mutual, not-for-profit organisations, MDOs and DDOs usually operate under a model of discretionary indemnity.
  
  Unlike an insurance policy, which is bound by a set of contractual exclusions, MDDUS will exercise discretion to act in the best interests of our membership. MDDUS will assess each case individually, taking into account the wider context, and potentially extend cover in circumstances which a contractual insurance policy may stipulate are excluded.
  
  MDDUS is wholly owned by our members – we have no shareholders and pay no dividends. This means we can prioritise protecting, supporting and safeguarding the interests of our membership.
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What is occurrence-based membership?
- MDDUS offers occurrence-based membership. This means that if you were in membership with MDDUS at the time of an alleged incident you will be eligible to seek assistance, regardless of when an actual claim is brought against you.
  
  Clinical negligence claims can be made several months or even years after the alleged incident occurred. An occurrence-based membership ensures continuous cover for that period, even after your membership has ended.
  
  This means that you will have peace of mind that you will remain protected, even into your retirement.
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Discretionary Indemnity

Our truth about discretionary indemnity vs common misconceptions

Frequently asked questions

What’s a Medical / Dental Defence Organisation (MDO / DDO)?

What is discretionary indemnity?

What is occurrence-based membership?

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