The ethics of professional indemnity and compensation

Abstract

"Sections of the new National Health Act are generally understood to be aimed at protecting the public and ensuring the acceptability, standards and safety of private health establishments. Its objective is to provide adequate public liability protection to patients, in respect of all such private facilities. Draft regulations relating to indemnity cover for registered health practitioners published on 2 March 2007 made provision for practising health practitioners to obtain and maintain indemnity cover. Submissions to the Department of Health following the publication of the draft regulations emphasised the need for health practitioners to have a high quality of professional indemnity cover to ensure that health practitioners are afforded the best possible protection. Members of the public must be assured of adequate compensation for damages which may arise from medical negligence."