Medical Malpractice for Establishments

As an establishment, it’s essential that you have the right cover in place. Medical malpractice insurance can be one of the largest annual practice-related expense that you might face, costing thousands of pounds each year.

Why do Establishments need Medical Malpractice Insurance?

Medical malpractice occurs when a hospital, doctor or other health care professional, through a negligent act or omission, causes an injury to a patient. The negligence might be the result of errors in diagnosis, treatment, aftercare or health management. With the financial viability of the practice and doctors’ personal reputations on the line, it is imperative to make sure malpractice insurance policies leave no vulnerabilities that could wipe out a lifetime of work.

At G&M International, we can give you financial protection in the event of a claim. Here are some examples of medical negligence that might lead to a lawsuit:

• Failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis
• Surgical errors or wrong site surgery
• Failure to order proper testing
• Disregarding or not taking the appropriate patient history
• Misreading or ignoring laboratory results
• Poor follow-up or aftercare
• Improper medication or dosage
• Premature discharge
• Unnecessary surgery
• Failure to recognise symptoms

To be considered as medical malpractice (territories may vary), the claim must have the following characteristics:

• A violation of the standard of care
• The injury resulted in significant damages
• The injury was caused by the negligence

Medical Malpractice for Establishments Insurance – the G&M International method

We understand the importance of having the right insurance in place to protect your establishment. There are two basic types of malpractice policies, claims-occurrence or claims-made.

The majority of insurers will only write on a claims-made basis, where only the policy in effect at the time a claim is reported responds to the loss, regardless of when the negligence occurred. This period can occasionally be extended backwards with a “retroactive date” and coverage can also be extended forwards with an “extended reporting period”, however, this may affect an increase in premiums.

The other type of insurance is claims-occurrence, which will cover for any negligence that occurs within the policy period regardless of when a claim is brought against insurers.

We understand the need to protect yourself from risks relating to Medical Malpractice claims, which is why we take a personal approach to find the right solution for you. For further information about our medical malpractice insurance give us a call on +44 (0) 207 977 1490 or take a look at our Medical Malpractice Insurance for Establishments Brochure.