Revised ‘Saatchi bill’ is back but critics still fearful – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 19th, 2015 in bills, doctors, negligence, news by sally

‘The new incarnation of the Saatchi bill to allow doctors to innovate without fear of negligence actions has continued its progress through parliament – but the legislation continues to divide opinion among MPs.’
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Law Society’s Gazette, 17th October 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Vilified’ doctor cannot publish patient’s private information – Panopticon

‘In the Matter of C (A Child) (Application by Dr X and Y) [2015] EWFC 79 involved, in the words of Munby J, an unusual and indeed unprecedented application. It pitted the right to defend one’s reputation against the privacy and confidentiality rights of others. In this case, the latter won.
Dr X had treated C and C’s mother; he had also been an expert witness in the family court care proceedings concerning C. C’s mother was unhappy about the treatment given by Dr X. She complained about him to the GMC, whose Fitness to Practise panel in due course found the allegations against Dr X to be unproven. C’s mother also criticised Dr X publicly in the media.’

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Panopticon, 1st October 2015

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

GP practices ‘offered rewards’ for not referring patients to hospitals – The Guardian

Posted October 2nd, 2015 in doctors, freedom of information, health, hospitals, inducements, news by tracey

‘GP practices are being offered thousands of pounds to cut the number of patients they refer to hospitals, according to an investigation.’

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The Guardian, 1st Ocotber 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DPP Alison Saunders says: ‘I’m still the right person for the job’ – The Guardian

‘The country’s most senior prosecutor said it was “difficult” hearing calls for her to quit over her handling of the Lord Janner case, but insisted: “I’m still the right person for the job.”’

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The Guardian, 6th September 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

End-of-life judgments shouldn’t be made by one doctor, says new guidance – The Guardian

Posted July 29th, 2015 in doctors, health, hospitals, news by sally

‘Judgments on when patients are reaching the end of their lives should be taken by a number of health experts rather than relying on the medical opinion of just one doctor, according to new guidance from health officials.’

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The Guardian, 29th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Modernising the law on informed consent – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted July 28th, 2015 in appeals, birth, consent, doctors, medical treatment, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The recent Supreme Court decision in Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] UKSC 11, 11 March 2015 has seen the courts move away from the previously paternalistic laws on informed consent and take a step towards recognising the more modern relationship between doctor and patient.’
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Hardwicke Chambers, 2nd June 2015

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Locked-in syndrome man loses challenge over right to die – BBC News

Posted July 21st, 2015 in assisted suicide, doctors, human rights, news by tracey

‘A man with locked-in syndrome has lost a High Court battle over guidelines which prevent doctors from assisting patients to end their lives.’

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BBC News, 20th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fake locum doctor sentenced – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A man who pretended to be a qualified doctor has been sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court to six years in prison.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 17th July 2015

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Daniel Pelka death: Doctor ‘fit to practise’, panel rules – BBC News

Posted June 12th, 2015 in child abuse, child neglect, disciplinary procedures, doctors, news by sally

‘A GP who did not act adequately over concerns raised about starved schoolboy Daniel Pelka remains fit to practise, a disciplinary panel has ruled.’

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BBC News, 11th June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gynaecologist Rob Jones: Hundreds of women in legal claim – BBC News

Posted June 11th, 2015 in complaints, damages, doctors, news, women by sally

‘Two hundred women treated by a disgraced surgeon have joined a group taking legal action against the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust.’

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BBC News, 10th June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Plastic surgeons must give patients chance to change mind, says General Medical Council – The Independent

‘Cosmetic procedure patients should be given a cooling-off period before going under the knife, according to the latest guidance by the General Medical Council (GMC).’

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The Independent, 8th June 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Oliver Sargent death: Safeguarding opportunities missed – BBC News

‘Health professionals missed “several opportunities” to safeguard an 11-month-old boy before he died of a skull fracture inflicted by his father, a serious case review has found.’

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BBC News, 2nd June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Daniel Pelka death: Doctor ‘lacked urgency’ – BBC News

Posted June 2nd, 2015 in child abuse, disciplinary procedures, doctors, news by sally

‘A GP should have been “more proactive” after concerns were raised about a four-year-old boy a month before he was killed, a disciplinary panel has heard.’

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BBC News, 2nd June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The role of the law, in the matter of Ashya King – OUP Blog

‘Parents of a child diagnosed with a serious illness are immediately required to make decisions about their child’s medical treatment which, in order to save life, may cause pain, unpleasant side-effects and risk damaging their child’s future quality of life. The actions, last summer, of the parents of five year old Ashya King offer just one example of the lengths to which parents will go to secure the best possible treatment for their child; researching alternative treatments, securing second opinions, finding a treatment centre offering innovative or experimental treatment, travelling abroad, selling belongings or otherwise raising funds for treatment. The Internet provides access to a host of information about the side effects and risks of conventional treatment, alternative treatments available across the world – if you can pay for them – and stories of their success.’

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OUP Blog, 22nd May 2015

Source: http://blog.oup.com

I wish I could pass a longer jail term, judge tells stalker – Daily Telegraph

‘Judge speaks of frustration at only being able to jail a stalker, who drove female GP to a mental breakdown, for five years.’

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Daily Telegraph, 26th May 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Paedophile doctor Myles Bradbury’s appeal ‘contemptible’ – BBC News

Posted May 20th, 2015 in appeals, child abuse, doctors, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A paedophile doctor’s appeal against his sentence is “utterly contemptible”, the mother of one victim has said.’

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BBC News, 19th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Staffordshire doctor’s ‘sexual touching’ was misconduct – BBC News

Posted May 20th, 2015 in doctors, news, professional conduct by sally

‘A doctor who inappropriately touched two midwives while on duty has been found guilty of misconduct.’

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BBC News, 19th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Consent to treatment – Hailsham Chambers

Posted April 20th, 2015 in codes of practice, consent, disclosure, doctors, medical treatment, negligence, news by sally

‘Medicine is a changing field, and the way it is practised is in many ways unrecognisable today from 30 years ago. Diagnostic techniques have improved. The technology is better. New drugs come onto the market. Patients are better informed. Less and less are patients inclined to take the stance that “doctor knows best”. There is a plethora of information available through the internet enabling patients to obtain information about symptoms, investigations, treatment options, risks and side-effects; there are patient support groups; healthcare institutions issue leaflets; pharmaceutical products are labelled and contain data sheets intended to give the public information, including in relation to risks; there is a constant raising of awareness of medical accidents and perceived inadequacies of healthcare provision through the media including social media. Whistle-blowing legislation protects those within the health service who wish to remove the veil from poor standards in hospital. And there have been some high-profile inquiries and reports which have revealed severely substandard practice in some places, two obvious examples being North Staffordshire and Morecambe Bay. The result is that the person who walks through the door of a consulting room today is likely to be very different to the person who walked in 30 years ago: better informed, cannier, more suspicious perhaps, more demanding, less resigned.’

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Hailsham Chambers, 26th March 2015

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

Clinical negligence: patients’ wishes are paramount – Park Square Barristers

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in birth, consent, doctors, hospitals, medical treatment, negligence, news by sally

‘Richard Paige discusses 2 recent decisions which are essential reading for any clinical negligence practitioner: they establish that patients’ wishes are paramount. Doctors must ensure that patients are sufficiently informed and must not censor information.’

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Park Square Barristers, 14th March 2015

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Cathedral sues NHS after worshipper tripped and injured foot – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 30th, 2015 in Church of England, doctors, health, negligence, news, personal injuries by sally

‘Lawyers claim injury was much worse than it would have been with appropriate treatment.’

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Daily Telegraph, 28th March 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk