Specialist contractual indemnity for gynaecologists – 100% guaranteed cover subject to policy terms No more discretionary refusal when you need legal support the most
We provide specialist contractual indemnity with no discretionary refusal. Our indemnity protects gynaecologists from legal costs and claims that may arise from professional negligence, incidents or allegations of malpractice.
We are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which means we’re upfront and clear from the start as to what’s covered. Our products are underwritten solely by UK insurers who are regulated by the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA). You can take comfort knowing our products have the financial security to meet claims.
Having a complaint lodged against you can be incredibly worrying. We ensure the process is stress-free from the start. Our expert in-house claims handlers and lawyers are approachable, friendly and available when you need them. We’ll never pass you over to third party claims handlers. We’ll be by your side every step of the way.
Driven by artificial intelligence, our unique underwriting process enables us to identify safely practising clinicians and offer competitive premiums. Our quotes are based on the procedures gynaecologists offer and perform rather than solely based on earnings.
Regardless of the type of support you need, our specialist in-house claims handlers and lawyers are always on hand, with a dedicated, single point of contact assigned to policyholders.
It’s vital that gynaecologists understand the differences between discretionary and contractual medical indemnity, with discretionary cover lacking the guaranteed protection of a contract of insurance.
Clinician A was originally introduced to their MDO at medical school. At no time when explaining their services (or at subsequent subscription renewals) can Clinician A recall the MDO explaining discretionary cover. Clinician A remained with their MDO for around 20 years, with subscription fees exceeding £100,000.
When an unexpected regulatory investigation was launched, it caught the attention of the press and claimant law firms. Clinician A looked to their MDO to assist with the regulatory issues and clinical negligence claims, and also enquired as to whether assistance could be provided in relation to the public media attention.
Clinician A was informed that their MDO was exercising their right to withdraw their protection. For both the regulatory issue and the defence of clinical negligence claims, Clinician A was left to fund their own representation. They were personally liable for claims in excess of £350,000.
Given the lack of immediate support, the matter was allowed to progress extensively and has caused almost irreversible reputational damage.
Clincian B signed up to discretionary indemnity at medical school. The MDO they signed with was so well known and used by all their colleagues, that they never questioned the effectiveness of the cover. Indemnity fees were taken each year by direct debit and Clinician B assumed they had adequate cover.
Following a referral request form which documented clear symptoms and a suspected diagnosis to investigate, Clinician B saw and investigated a patient according to usual procedure.
A claim was later brought against the Clinician B for failing to notice a tumour in an area unrelated to the symptoms or suspected diagnosis. Clinician B contacted their MDO who refused the claim on discretionary indemnity grounds.
Clinician B had never made a claim in the past, and to date, had paid thousands of pounds in membership fees.
Clinician B was left to fund their defence privately, with the claim valued in the region of £250,000.
It’s important that gynaecologists keep up-to-date with and are aware of emerging clinical risk trends that could lead to claims.
We make this easy by offering complimentary access to clinical risk alerts, based on advanced claims intelligence provided by our Lead Clinical Partner, TMLEP. Policyholders can stay updated by accessing the latest insights that may impact their practice.
Although typically rare, surgery-related nerve damage can arise from a number of different procedures. The severity of nerve damage can vary greatly, from complete disability to temporary, minor chronic pain.
In order to manage patient expectations, and to defend claims involving nerve damage, generalised consent for chronic nerve pain and/or nerve damage should always be considered.
TMLEP has identified an increase in claims against gynaecologists resulting from femoral nerve injuries sustained during abdominal hysterectomies.
Awareness of neurological injury is not widely recognised by gynaecologists in the UK, and it is not discussed in the standard consent form provided by the Royal College of Gynaecologists. Because of this, it is understandable why patient consent forms seldom include this risk.
It is important for gynaecologists to remain informed about the pre-treatment options available for fibroids. Several cases have shown that GnRH analogues should always be considered prior to fibroid removal surgery.
One example is if the fibroids are causing an enlarged or distorted uterus. Clinical and patient discussions regarding the risks and benefits of taking GnRH analogues should occur prior to surgery.