Often purchased by healthcare providers, malpractice insurance is a form of professional liability insurance. Malpractice insurance protects those who dispense health advice, treatments or diagnoses against claims of negligence made by patients. Essentially, should a patient claim they were harmed due to negligence on the part of a healthcare provider, this type of cover can protect against the financial impact of any legal proceedings.
Do I need malpractice insurance in the UAE?
If you work in the healthcare industry then the answer is usually yes. While doctors are perhaps the most exposed to claims of negligence, such legal proceedings can be brought against any healthcare worker, including nurses, care workers, physical therapists, and a broad range of other medical professionals.
What does malpractice insurance cover?
So, what does malpractice insurance cover? The exact level of cover provided will depend on the details of your policy, however most policies cover a range of mistakes and shortcomings, including misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, errors in prescribing medication, errors administering medications (such as anaesthesia), errors during surgery and errors during childbirth.
As well as protecting against the financial impact of a legal claim against you such as legal fees and expenses, most malpractice policies also provide compensation for loss of earnings – both real and potential – as well as recompense for any mental strain, pain, and suffering that you may experience as a result of a claim against you.
There are also instances that a standard malpractice policy will not cover. For example, in the unlikely event that the error in question was not simply a mistake, and you are adjudged to have caused intentional harm to the subject of the claim.
There are also instances that a standard malpractice policy will not cover.
Understanding malpractice cover
For those working in Dubai, UAE, that are exposed to such risks, malpractice cover can be one of the most crucial types of insurance available. This is true for both businesses and individuals. It is a given that most individuals could not cover the cost of a malpractice complaint without adequate insurance, but the same is true of most businesses too.
Compensation for complaints of medical error or malpractice have been known to run into the millions, so malpractice insurance doesn’t just protect healthcare workers, but also their employers. In fact, in most cases employers are held to be responsible for the actions of their employees. Malpractice cover can therefore ensure that your business assets are not put at risk by the actions of a staff member.
There are two common types of malpractice cover: occurrence and claims made. Occurrence protects you against claims during the insured period regardless of when a claim is made. For example, if you are covered between 2013 and 2015 but a claim in made in 2018, alleging negligence in 2014, you will be covered because you were insured at the time.
Occurrence protects you against claims during the insured period regardless of when a claim is made.
The other main type, claims-made, only protects you when the policy is in place. For example, if you were covered between 2013 and 2015 but a claim is filed in 2018 for negligence in 2014, you are not covered as the policy is no longer in place.
For a claim of malpractice to be successful, the claiming party must usually prove that the actions of a healthcare provider have resulted in an adverse outcome – such as injury, suffering or death. These actions must be shown to be negligent and below the generally accepted standards of care.
Why choose Lifecare?
At Lifecare, we know that life and business are full of risks. But while a malpractice policy won’t protect you from unexpected events, it will protect you from financial loss. We’ll help you choose the types of risks you wish to cover, by choosing the right kind of policy, and with the benefits you most need, for total peace of mind.
Our highly experienced team based in Dubai, UAE, can assist you with any issue related to a claim as a result of negligence and malpractice. And we are fully committed to making sure your experience with us is as timely and hassle-free as possible – that’s why we’ll always prioritise the needs of your business and any affected staff.
Our highly experienced team based in Dubai, UAE, can assist you with any issue related to a claim as a result of negligence and malpractice.
As well as finding you the best price from hundreds of the best insurers, we also offer a unique and personalised service to bring you cover that counts, at a premium you’re prepared to pay. We’re on hand in the difficult times too, managing the entire claim process for every one of our clients.
So, why choose Lifecare for your malpractice insurance? Quite simply, because we’re not like the rest. Our team of over 100 insurance professionals look after individuals, families and companies, and make us the leading independent insurance agents in the region. In the 20 years since our launch, we’re proud to have helped over 25,000 people and more than 1,000 businesses.