NHS staff should inform patients of negligent acts

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7405.7

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Clare Dyer, legal correspondent

Doctors and managers in the NHS will be placed under a statutory “duty of candour” requiring them to tell patients when a negligent act or omission causes harm, under plans for sweeping reform of the clinical negligence system unveiled this week.

Professor Liam Donaldson's report calls for candour

Credit: MARK THOMAS

A new NHS “redress scheme” will offer a compensation package of remedial care, apologies, and compensation up to £30 000 ($49 670; €43 170) without the need for litigation, and no-fault compensation for babies with severe birth related neurological damage. The redress scheme, to be administered by a new …