Consultants lose cover as MDU row deepens

HOSPITAL consultants involved in specialities other than obstetrics have been refused cover against medical negligence claims by their insurers.

In a further escalation of its dispute with the Department of Health, the Medical Defence Union (MDU) has confirmed that it referred non-obstetrics medical negligence cases back to the State Claims Agency.

The latest refusal comes in the wake of revelations last week that the MDU had written to three consultant obstetricians in Ireland rejecting their request for assistance in specific legal cases. At least one of the claims is believed to involve a case of cerebral palsy.