Clinical negligence

Abstract

Clinical negligence may be tried under the civil or criminal legal system. Any General Medical Council proceedings are conducted separately. All cost time and money, and may be stressful for the patient and clinicians involved. In order to prove negligence, the claimant must prove the clinician had a duty of care, there was breach of that duty, and that breach caused injury. Interpretation of the law evolves as cases are heard in court and precedents are set. It is important for clinicians to keep up to date with developments in their specialty and good medical practice guidelines.