Doctors run a high risk not just on their reputation but also their personal finances during diagnosis or treatment of patients, as there is always a chance of mistake or oversight while carrying out their professional duties leading to injury or even death of a patient as a worst-case scenario.
Professional Indemnity policy covers claims brought against the doctor and/or their staff for unintentional & erroneous treatment or diagnosis rendered to the patients. Moreover, this policy also helps to protect the doctor against claims that are not his/her fault but an allegation of negligence which might be claimed by a patient or third parties (kins of patients)
The policy covers legal costs and expenses incurred in defence of the insured, as well as any damages or costs that may be awarded, if the insured is alleged to have been negligent in providing professional services that caused a patient bodily injury, illness, sickness, adversities or death.
WHO SHOULD BUY
- Medical Graduate working as a resident doctor
- Practicing qualified Medical Professional (such as a Physician, Radiologist, Dentist, Anaesthetists, Gynaecologist, Paediatrician, Specialist/Surgeon in a specialized field)
- Any doctor who is working with a Hospital or has his/her own practice
WHO CAN BRING CLAIMS?
A third party most often patients (or kins of patient) who have suffered bodily injury, illness, sickness, adversities or death because of insured’s negligent diagnosis or treatment.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SUM ASSURED
Sum assured is referred to the limit of Indemnity. This limit is fixed per accident and per policy period which is called Any One Accident (AOA) limit and Any One Year (AOY) limit respectively.
Sum assured is mostly dependent on factors related Doctor Specialisation and city/type of customer’s doctor is offering services to. Limit of Liability can be from INR 5,000,000 to INR 50,000,000.
Although there is no definitive way to derive at the Sum Assured in case of a Legal Liability Insurance the above factors do give the Insured an idea on how to choose the right Sum assured which once selected the policy will be issued based on the same
KEY EXCLUSIONS
• Criminal act, penalties, fines, punitive & exemplary damages
• Intentional non-compliance, wilful neglect, deliberate act
• Loss of goodwill
• Medical malpractice done under the influence of alcohol or narcotics
• Medical treatment given for weight loss, plastic surgery, genetic damages & conditions associated with AIDS
• Liability arising out of hair weaving, punch grafts, flap rotations, pure cosmetic procedure
• War/Terrorism/Invasion
• Losses arising due to insolvency or bankruptcy