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GP clinical negligence cases see sharp rise |
The number of GPs who have faced a clinical negligence claim in 2010 rose by almost 20 per cent compared with the year before, it has been stated.
The Daily Telegraph reports figures from the Medical Defence Union (MDU) that revealed 13 of these involved claims worth over £1 million, up from just one in 1995.
While the MDU said it could not reveal the exact number of cases it dealt with due to confidentiality rules, it noted the most common accusation was for a late or incorrect diagnosis, which made up six out of ten cases.
Other common mistakes included a failure to refer patients to specialists (15 per cent) and errors in medication, which made up one in ten claims.
Head of claims at the MDU Jill Harding suggested a greater availability of 'no win, no fee' arrangements may be one reason for the increase.
"We see no evidence, however, of any deterioration in standards of care or in the professional relationships between our GP members and their patients," she added.
Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp, who heads the medical injury team at KCJ, commented: "It would be interesting to see more detail about these figures as the increase may be related to the out of hours Doctor's service which is often contracted out.
"Although the MDU says the increase does not reflect a decline in standards and may be related to an increase in 'no win no fee' agreements, if most of the claims are successful this would demonstrate a possible fall in standards as these claims are difficult to prove and only result in compensation being paid if the claimant does prove negligence."
Earlier this month, two teenagers who were caught up in the Bristol heart scandal were awarded £500,000 each after surgical errors left them with permanent brain damage.
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