Medical Litigation: Impact on Medical Innovation Debate

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Department: Department of Health and Social Care

Lord Patel

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Medical Litigation: Impact on Medical Innovation

Lord Patel Excerpts

Airports: Passenger Numbers
Monday 15th July 2013

(11 years, 4 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
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My noble friend makes an extremely important point. Our policy is that it is right that NHS patients who are injured as a result of clinical negligence should be able to obtain correct and full compensation. Under the current system, compensation is in general paid only where legal liability can be established. The underlying principles are clear cut and enshrined in common law.

Lord Patel Portrait Lord Patel
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My Lords, does the Minister agree that the only bar to surgeons introducing new surgical procedures is that they subject them to external audit to make sure that they do not harm patients?

Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
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As far as I am aware, the noble Lord is absolutely right. That is a very important point.

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