Urgent legal or ethical situations may arise quickly and require prompt consultation and possible escalation (e.g., capacity and consent issues for life-saving procedures such as blood transfusions). The range of ethical issues involved may be of particular interest to people with medical training. Absolute. Whether you`re taking a break from clinical practice early in your career or need a new challenge after many years in your advisory role, you`ve gained a wealth of transferable skills that will serve you well in this field. Physicians` ability to learn quickly, work in ever-changing teams, and effectively manage extremely stressful crisis situations is often considered commonplace in medicine – in fact, these are in-demand skills that contribute to high professional resilience. In the forensic field, your clinical knowledge will be invaluable, whether you are preparing an expert opinion or interpreting large amounts of complex medical information, and you should NEVER underestimate the usefulness of your translation skills when it comes to deciphering handwritten documents! You are likely to show real empathy when dealing with counselling calls or managing witnesses and families because you know the real pressures and problems of the health care system. Finally, the outcomes of legal processes can bring about truly positive change within trusts and the NHS as a whole, improving patient care and providing a high level of job satisfaction for many stakeholders. Forensic work is an attractive option for physicians who wish to diversify their practice, take a break from their career, or leave clinical medicine altogether. As the number of legal processes the NHS is involved in increases every year, this is a rapidly evolving and exciting field to work in. We explore all the pros and cons of a forensic career for physicians. With the Medical Protective Society (MPS), an exciting opportunity has arisen for a doctor who wants to pursue a career in the forensic field.
SpR/Consultant/GP Level – If you have 5 years of post-qualification experience, you may consider working as a Forensic Advisor (MLA) with one of the defense organisations such as MPS, MDU or MDDUS. This can be done full-time or part-time alongside clinical commitments, and since this role requires GMC registration, the organization should help the organization organize your assessments and revalidations. To be considered, you will usually need a postgraduate legal qualification or experience in the forensic field. These businesses can include various benefits such as private health insurance, annuities, and gym memberships, and part-time work is also an option. We explore all the pros and cons of a forensic career for physicians. This helps alleviate many doctors` concerns that they are `wasting` their degree and all the time they spend in the NHS if they cut back or abandon their clinical work. Foundation/SHO level – a good place to start if you have less than 5 years of clinical experience is to look for a job within the medical law team of your local NHS Trust, for example as an investigation and claims manager. This does not require a medical degree, so it is an option for any medical degree; However, this also means that if you wish to keep your GMC recording, it is your responsibility to arrange it. The salary is usually about the same as what you expect at the start of Year 1 basic or specialty training, and you can continue to contribute to your existing NHS pension if you wish to transfer it. Vacancies are usually listed on the NHS Jobs website, but if the right candidate is not found, the job will not necessarily appear online. So, if there are currently no vacancies, be bold and contact the department head via the hospital`s switchboard. Explain your interest, ask if you can email them a resume, and consider requesting an informal meeting to get a feel for the role.
The Medical Protection Society (MPS) is the world`s leading protection organization for physicians, dentists and healthcare professionals. We protect and support the professional interests of more than 300,000 members around the world, in countries as diverse as the UK, South Africa and Hong Kong. We strive to be much more than a last line of defense by supporting our members every step of the way, providing them with world-class support, advice and advocacy. Membership provides access to expert advice and support, as well as the right to seek redress for complaints or claims arising from professional practice. We continue to invest in our team to ensure we provide the best possible service to members. This was recognized in 2016 when we received the Investors in People Silver Award. First, be realistic about which roles are right for you, based on your clinical experience. Some jobs do not require a medical degree, while others require at least 10 years of special exposure, and salary and workload vary accordingly. As an indication (and by no means exhaustive), the role of MLC is a position of significant responsibility and requires a dynamic person capable of managing a loaded, varied and challenging workload.
Advanced communication skills are essential as you need to assess and answer complex questions, supervise colleagues, and lead a forensic defense team. Whether GMC registration is maintained or not, there is a wide range of opportunities for physicians who perform forensic work. This could include working as part of an NHS trust, an NHS specialist body, a regulatory or safety and quality organisation, or within academia. Alternatively, there are many opportunities to become self-employed or develop a portfolio career. We are recruiting a number of forensic consultants (MLCs) to join our team. As an MLC, you will work closely with your colleagues across the department to support members. MLCs are responsible for medical advice, but must also focus on strengthening relationships with our members, promoting PHM and the interests of our members and the profession at large through education, teaching and participation in stakeholders and external events. International options – in many other countries, including Australia and the United States, you can pursue a career as an expert witness or consultant to a medical advocacy organization through a process similar to that of the United Kingdom.
However, since different states and territories in other countries may have different healthcare organizations and legal procedures, your job search should be focused on where you want to work. Contacting organizations such as the Australasian College of Legal Medicine or the American Medical Association Litigation Center is a good place to start. For more information on a medical-legal career as a physician, check out our LIVE webinar “Medical Legal Careers for Physicians: Key Strategies for You” with 3 experts in the field. Working hours are generally less anti-social than shift work, often with the possibility of working from home. As with any job, it may take a while to find out if it`s definitely the right decision for you. Here are some useful questions to consider in advance: This form is protected by Google reCAPTCHA. By using this form, you agree to Google`s privacy policy and Google`s terms of service. It`s a truly rewarding role where every day is different and you have the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of our members. “I love my current job because it allows me to apply my medical knowledge while researching and developing new skills in a non-clinical role.” Day-to-day interactions with a different type of multidisciplinary team (clinical witnesses, coroners, patient safety staff, law firms, etc.) Legal processes and outcomes can be used as effective learning tools for clinical and non-clinical staff using anonymized patient data. This can be an interesting way to gain insight into how the many parts of the NHS work and are interconnected in everyday life.
Ideally, you are a doctor with an interest in medical law and ethics. You are someone who is passionate about supporting and protecting physicians and is looking for a new career in a dynamic and rapidly evolving industry within a mutual organization. It depends on your specific role, but the work is usually varied, mixing urgent and non-urgent components. This may include: Senior Consultant/Senior GP Level – if you have 10+ years of clinical experience, the expert role may be an attractive option for you. This includes analyzing all medical information related to a clinical negligence claim and determining whether the care provided was appropriate in the circumstances. You will then prepare a full report for the lawyers you have hired, and you may have to appear before the court as a witness if the case goes to court. This role is largely autonomous and depends on your reputation, and since your duty to the court is, it requires complete honesty and a factual assessment, regardless of your employer.