Learning from other people's mistakes.

Clinical negligence claims are a rich source of risk management material. Although medical practice varies to some extent around the globe, familiar themes can be identified from the cases reported to the Medical Protection Society’s (MPS) Claims Committee. Case reports inevitably focus on the lessons that can be learnt and so tend to be reports where the errors in management are unequivocal. However, this should not be seen as a reflection of all the claims reported or even settled by the MPS. The dividing line between accepted medical practice and negligence can be exceptionally fine, and in some otherwise defensible cases, settlement has to be made simply for want of relevant evidence, such as adequate medical records.