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There can be little doubt that the world is becoming a more litigious place and that the healthcare professions are bearing the brunt of liability claims.
Many practitioners feel that if they are professional, keep records and maintain their cover there is little for them to worry about. But the legal system has a knack of imposing itself upon others and the optical profession will have to change to maintain sensibly priced premiums.
This week optician carries no less than three items with direct reference to professional insurance. These span the whole gamut of liability from medical malpractice, through product liability and on into simple buildings insurance. And make no mistake, litigation is changing the way practitioners behave. The latest scheme to be launched (see page 5) is transparent in its message to practitioners that they have to perform certain procedures and maintain excellent records to be able to defend potential claims. It is fair to assume any insurer would expect the same.
Insurance has fast become a millstone around the professional neck. It started out as a neat and cost-effective way of protecting oneself against the inevitable mishap or oversight. But in recent years insurance has become an incentive for the misdiagnosed, accidentally injured or downright dishonest to make a fast buck.
The insurance world is being squeezed as never before as claims stretching back decades start to bite. Asbestos, industrial injury, drug misuse and many more things besides are making insurance companies fearful of medical cover.
The profession's desire to take on a bigger healthcare role and prescribing rights to therapeutic drugs will increase the pressure further. It may well be the legal profession rather than the medical profession that decides what actually goes on in the consulting room.