Articles and Case Studies

Support and Protection During Your Elective

17 Jun 2012

Are you planning your elective? Are you covered for your elective? We know there's a lot you need to organise when planning your elective but if your own medical indemnity isn't on your to-do list, you might want to consider adding it!

During your elective, you may perform tasks in medical training situations that potentially expose you to negligence claims or investigations.

With this in mind, it's a good idea to organise your own medical indemnity insurance.

Support, protection and guidance are integral to your career success. You are learning and it's common to feel out of depth, or worry about making an error of judgment on your elective.

Choosing an indemnity provider early in your career that best fits your long-term needs is essential because claims and investigations can occur years after the provision of medical services.

What about university cover?

Most universities hold insurance policies that provide some cover for medical students but this doesn’t necessarily mean you are protected for your medical elective. It's important you find out the details of the policy and feel confident that you will be adequately protected. For example, some university insurance policies may not cover practice undertaken outside of Australia or may exclude student electives. Some universities hold insurance policies that DO NOT provide any cover for medical students. So you could be left to fund your own legal advice in the event of an incident or claim that could cost tens of thousands of dollars.

In your world

If a medico-legal issue arises from your elective, your own medical indemnity insurance policy gives you access to independent representation to protect your interests and provide you with assistance, support and advice. The MDA National Insurance Student Indemnity Policy* provides indemnity for claims and investigations that arise from practice undertaken during a student elective. You can feel confident that you will be protected with features such as:

  • Cover for clinical placements, electives and scholarship placements anywhere in the world#
  • Access to independent legal representation who will act on your behalf

To find out about all the features of our Student Indemnity Policy.

How much will your own indemnity cost?

The MDA National Insurance Student Indemnity Policy is free of charge to Student Members of MDA National.

If you haven’t already, you can now apply online  and get instant confirmation or call 1800 011 255.

 

*Subject to the terms and conditions of the Student Indemnity Policy.

# Excluding USA or its territories unless it relates to Good Samaritan acts.

The MDA National Group is made up of MDA National Limited ABN 67 055 801 771 and MDA National Insurance Pty Ltd (MDA National Insurance) ABN 56 058 271 417 AFS Licence No. 238073. Insurance products are underwritten by MDA National Insurance Pty Ltd (MDA National Insurance) ABN 56 058 271 417 AFS Licence No. 238073. Before making a decision to buy or hold any products issued by MDA National Insurance, please consider your personal circumstances, and read the Product Disclosure Statement and Policy wording available at www.mdanational.com.au.

 

Library

Reportable Deaths and Coronial Matters

MDA National's Daniel Spencer (Case Manager - Solicitor) and Karen Lam (Medico-Legal Adviser) discuss when a person's death should be reported to the Coroner and what to do if the Coroner requests a statement or report.

Death Certificates

When a doctor can write a death certificate (where the death does not need to be reported to the Coroner), considerations when writing the death certificate and how to complete it accurately.

Communication in healthcare teams

Why good and effective communication is a vital part of delivering quality and safe patient care

Doctors, Let's Talk: Setting Boundaries At Work

A conversation with Nicola Campbell, Psychiatry Registrar, that explores the necessity of setting professional boundaries as a Junior Doctor.

Podcasts

07 Dec 2022