The Medical Defence Union (MDU) is one of three major medical defence organisations (MDOs) in the United Kingdom, offering professional medical indemnity for clinical negligence claims and advice provided by medico-legal experts for its members.[2][3][4] It is a mutual not for profit organisation.[5]
Dr Matthew Lee (Chief executive) Dr Paul Riordan-Eva (President)
Number of employees
420
Website
themdu.com
The MDU was established in 1885 and was the first of its kind in the world. As of January 2022[update] it has around 200,000 members: doctors, nurses, dentists and other healthcare professionals.[6] The Dental Defence Union (DDU) is the specialist dental division of the MDU.
The Medical Defence Union was founded in 1885 following outrage in the medical community over the case of a Dr David Bradley who was wrongly convicted of a charge of assaulting a woman in his surgery. Dr Bradley spent eight months in prison before receiving a full pardon.[7]
By late 1885, there was increasing recognition among the medical profession of the real risk doctors ran in their everyday practice and the poor resources at their disposal to defend themselves. The British Medical Association, for example, to which many of the profession belonged, was not permitted under its constitution to undertake individual medical defence.
In 1885, solicitors Mr Dauney and Mr Cridland, together with Mr Rideal, Mr Clements, Mr Leggatt, Mr Sinyanki and Mr Fitzgerald, signed a memorandum that established the aims and objectives of the newly registered company, the Medical Defence Union. They were the first executive board. The annual subscription cost for members was set at 10 shillings.[8]
Servicesedit
The MDU produces a member guide, to explain to members what they might expect:[9]
Professional indemnity against claims for clinical negligence
Support and representation with disciplinary and regulatory investigations, coroner's inquests and criminal investigations into members’ professional practice
Medico-legal advice including out of hours emergency helpline 24 hours a day
Help with responding to patient complaints
Support when faced with media attention such as help with preparing media statements and responding to the media
Risk management resources from case reports and online journals
CPD-accredited education courses helping members reduce the risk of a complaint or claim, and improve their wellbeing and communication skills
Free access to an app containing news, membership card and proof of membership
Member discounts on books, courses, online revision resources
Journalsedit
The MDU produces three journals for members which are available on its website and in its member app – the MDU journal, the DDU journal and Student Notes.
Lobbyingedit
The MDU is active in influencing the medico-legal climate on behalf of members. In 2012 the MDU launched its campaign calling on the government to make compensation for injured patients fair and affordable.[10] The campaign was launched in response to spiralling medical negligence bills which have quadrupled in the last decade.[11] According to former chief executive, Dr Christine Tomkins, compensation claims in England are among the highest in the world and the consequence of this on general practice and the wider NHS is catastrophic.[12] MDU also campaigned for state-backed indemnity for GPs in England which was introduced in April 2019 and they have called for healthcare professionals to be exempt from litigation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]
Regulatory and legal informationedit
The Medical Defence Union is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for insurance mediation and consumer credit activities only. The MDU is not an insurance company. The benefits of MDU membership are all discretionary and are subject to the Memorandum and Articles of Association.[14]
^"The MDU journal - June 2010" (PDF). The MDU. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
^"my membership > member guide". themdu.com. Medical Defence Union. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
^"Tackling the problem of spiralling medical negligence compensation". Politics Home. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
^"Medical blunders cost NHS billions". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
^"Compensation culture damaging patients' ability to access GPs". On Medica. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
^Tomkins, Christine; Purshouse, Craig; Heywood, Rob; Miola, José; Cave, Emma; Devaney, Sarah (1 July 2020). "Should doctors tackling covid-19 be immune from negligence liability claims?". BMJ. 370 (370): m2487. doi:10.1136/bmj.m2487. PMID 32611590. S2CID 220268481.
^"Memorandum and articles of association". The MDU. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
External linksedit
Official website
January 01, 1970
medical, defence, union, three, major, medical, defence, organisations, mdos, united, kingdom, offering, professional, medical, indemnity, clinical, negligence, claims, advice, provided, medico, legal, experts, members, mutual, profit, organisation, company, t. The Medical Defence Union MDU is one of three major medical defence organisations MDOs in the United Kingdom offering professional medical indemnity for clinical negligence claims and advice provided by medico legal experts for its members 2 3 4 It is a mutual not for profit organisation 5 Medical Defence UnionCompany typePrivate limited companyIndustryProfessional indemnityFounded23 October 1885 138 years ago 1885 10 23 1 HeadquartersCanary Wharf London United KingdomKey peopleDr Matthew Lee Chief executive Dr Paul Riordan Eva President Number of employees420Websitethemdu wbr com The MDU was established in 1885 and was the first of its kind in the world As of January 2022 update it has around 200 000 members doctors nurses dentists and other healthcare professionals 6 The Dental Defence Union DDU is the specialist dental division of the MDU Contents 1 History 2 Services 3 Journals 4 Lobbying 5 Regulatory and legal information 6 References 7 External linksHistory editThe Medical Defence Union was founded in 1885 following outrage in the medical community over the case of a Dr David Bradley who was wrongly convicted of a charge of assaulting a woman in his surgery Dr Bradley spent eight months in prison before receiving a full pardon 7 By late 1885 there was increasing recognition among the medical profession of the real risk doctors ran in their everyday practice and the poor resources at their disposal to defend themselves The British Medical Association for example to which many of the profession belonged was not permitted under its constitution to undertake individual medical defence In 1885 solicitors Mr Dauney and Mr Cridland together with Mr Rideal Mr Clements Mr Leggatt Mr Sinyanki and Mr Fitzgerald signed a memorandum that established the aims and objectives of the newly registered company the Medical Defence Union They were the first executive board The annual subscription cost for members was set at 10 shillings 8 Services editThe MDU produces a member guide to explain to members what they might expect 9 Professional indemnity against claims for clinical negligence Support and representation with disciplinary and regulatory investigations coroner s inquests and criminal investigations into members professional practice Medico legal advice including out of hours emergency helpline 24 hours a day Help with responding to patient complaints Support when faced with media attention such as help with preparing media statements and responding to the media Risk management resources from case reports and online journals CPD accredited education courses helping members reduce the risk of a complaint or claim and improve their wellbeing and communication skills Free access to an app containing news membership card and proof of membership Member discounts on books courses online revision resourcesJournals editThe MDU produces three journals for members which are available on its website and in its member app the MDU journal the DDU journal and Student Notes Lobbying editThe MDU is active in influencing the medico legal climate on behalf of members In 2012 the MDU launched its campaign calling on the government to make compensation for injured patients fair and affordable 10 The campaign was launched in response to spiralling medical negligence bills which have quadrupled in the last decade 11 According to former chief executive Dr Christine Tomkins compensation claims in England are among the highest in the world and the consequence of this on general practice and the wider NHS is catastrophic 12 MDU also campaigned for state backed indemnity for GPs in England which was introduced in April 2019 and they have called for healthcare professionals to be exempt from litigation related to the COVID 19 pandemic 13 Regulatory and legal information editThe Medical Defence Union is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for insurance mediation and consumer credit activities only The MDU is not an insurance company The benefits of MDU membership are all discretionary and are subject to the Memorandum and Articles of Association 14 References edit The Medical Defence Union Ltd Plc MDU Europa Medica 2019 03 08 Retrieved 2023 05 23 Medical Defence Union MDU Bankside Law www banksidelaw com Retrieved 2023 05 23 Medical defence BMJ 1 6077 1615 1616 25 June 1977 doi 10 1136 bmj 1 6077 1615 PMC 1607772 PMID 871693 Cottrell Elizabeth Stanley Andrew 2009 The Medical Student Career Handbook Radcliffe Publishing ISBN 978 1 84619 304 0 Gregory Andrew 17 January 2022 One in four NHS doctors tired to the point of impairment survey finds The Guardian Retrieved 23 January 2023 Br Med J 1885 1 403 The MDU journal June 2010 PDF The MDU Retrieved 11 January 2016 my membership gt member guide themdu com Medical Defence Union Retrieved 23 January 2023 Tackling the problem of spiralling medical negligence compensation Politics Home Retrieved 11 March 2015 Medical blunders cost NHS billions The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 11 July 2015 Compensation culture damaging patients ability to access GPs On Medica 15 September 2017 Retrieved 12 October 2017 Tomkins Christine Purshouse Craig Heywood Rob Miola Jose Cave Emma Devaney Sarah 1 July 2020 Should doctors tackling covid 19 be immune from negligence liability claims BMJ 370 370 m2487 doi 10 1136 bmj m2487 PMID 32611590 S2CID 220268481 Memorandum and articles of association The MDU Retrieved 11 January 2016 External links editOfficial website nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Medical Defence Union amp oldid 1182717008, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
