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Possible MPS eviction 'an unmitigated disaster’ – patient litigator

Chris Bateman

Abstract


One of the country’s top patient litigators and a seasoned opponent of the Medical Protection Society (MPS), Mervyn Joseph, says forcing the MPS out would prove an ‘unmitigated disaster’ for patients and doctors alike.
Joseph, who has over the years received ‘substantial’ compensation from the MPS on behalf of patients, says he would rather litigate against an informed, professional opponent with solid financial reserves than ‘fight tooth and nail against someone bent only on avoiding both the merits of an action and paying justifiable quantum’. Warning that the highly specialised health care indemnity/insurance market could be flooded with unschooled and/or under-funded newcomers, Joseph cited a current defendant whose insurers he is suing to prevent their reneging on their contractual obligation to cover the doctor in terms of his policy.

Author's affiliations

Chris Bateman, HMPG

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Keywords

professional indemnity

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2010;100(11):700.

Article History

Date submitted: 2010-10-04
Date published: 2010-11-09

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