When we are likely to help

As a members' organisation, we believe it's important to provide up front information about when we are likely and unlikely to help members. This means you have a good understanding of what to expect when asking for our help.

As our member you can ask us for help, which we may provide at our Board of Management's discretion. The following are examples of things we may take into account when deciding whether to help you.

• You should have been a member of the MDU when the incident took place.
  and
  If your membership is on a claims made basis, you must have remained in active claims made membership, or you were in an Extended Reporting Period when the specific incident was notified to us by you; or you first sought MDU assistance with a claim or other medico-legal problem arising from the specific incident.
• You should have declared to us the nature of your practice, in terms of type and quantity of work and have paid the appropriate subscription.
• You should have told us about any change in your circumstances, and about any change to your professional or personal situation which is relevant and has, or may have, a material bearing on your professional practice, or on your MDU membership.
• You should have been registered and licensed with the GMC or another appropriate registration body to carry out the clinical duties you did and have had the training and experience needed for these duties.
• You should co-operate fully with us and our representatives.
• You should provide full and accurate information relevant to the case without delay, and be truthful and act in good faith at all times.
• You should not have admitted legal liability for a claim, or settled a claim without our agreement.
• The matter should have arisen from your clinical practice in the UK. The patient should be in the UK on the date of the incident and the date of the examination (if different), unless you have specific agreement from our membership team to work overseas.

If you need our help, simply call 0800 716 646, our 24-hour freephone medico-legal helpline. Please tell us as soon as possible about any claim against you or about any circumstances that may give rise to a claim, about work which is indemnified by the MDU.