MDU no longer to indemnify private spinal surgery

The Medical Defence Union (MDU), which provides insurance to doctors, is withdrawing support for spinal surgery in private hospitals. It blames the high cost of claims.

Consultants working in the  private sector will need to find a new insurer as without indemnity cover they will be unable to carry out such work.

Christian Beadell, a senior solicitor within the medical negligence at Fletchers commented on the decision, “The implications of negligent spinal surgery can be devastating and lead to lifelong care for the patient.  Such claims can be of the highest value and the MDU has taken a commercial decision to conclude that it is cheaper to them to withdraw cover than address training and practice issues to reduce errors and increase patient safety.

It is hoped that the other insurance providers on the market such as the Medical Protection Society or Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland will continue to provide such cover, otherwise patient treatment is likely to suffer.”

Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j2725