title: United Kingdom 'Crown' indemnity for medical negligence--an overview of the first 18 months of the new scheme.
abstract: This article describes the background to the introduction of 'Crown' indemnity and summarizes the operation of the scheme. It also makes clear the limited nature of the scheme and how it does not apply, for example, to independent contractors such as general medical and dental practitioners. Also described is the nature and operation of United Kingdom medical defence organizations such as the Medical Protection Society and the services which they continue to provide to medical and dental practitioners worldwide. Early indications suggest that the new government scheme is placing a very heavy financial burden on health authorities which already suffer from underfunding and tight budgetary control.
authors.affiliation: Medical Protection Society, London, England.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006113:United Kingdom