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Legal, Ethical & Clinical Issues in Dentistry
How new guidelines and procedures will impact the entire dental team and enhance patient safety 76 Portland Place, 8th May 2006, London

About AvMA

Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) is an independent UK charity which works for better patient safety and justice for people who have been affected by a medical accident. A 'medical accident' is where unintended harm has been caused as a result of treatment or failure to treat appropriately. This includes where the care has been negligent, but does not necessarily mean that it was. AvMA believes that whatever the cause of a medical accident, the people affected deserve explanations, support, and where appropriate, compensation. Furthermore, we all deserve to know that the necessary steps will be taken to prevent similar accidents being repeated.

What does AvMA do?

• Provide free, independent advice and information to people who have been affected by a medical accident . Staff with relevant medical and legal training can be accessed via AvMA’s helpline (0845 123 23 52) and also provide detailed written casework analysis. We advise people of their rights; how to get an investigation into what happened and why; explain medical terminology and procedures; advise if treatment may have been poor quality or negligent; advise whether a claim for compensation could be made and how the system works; refer to a specialist solicitor if appropriate; and suggest help with coping with the emotional as well as practical effects of the accident including AvMA’s own support network or other support groups.

• Raise standards in clinical negligence legal work . We assess solicitors for inclusion on our specialist clinical negligence panel, which is recognised by the Legal Services Commission and others. We also provide comprehensive information and advice services to solicitors who practice clinical negligence, and run high quality training and conferences to promote good practice.

• Bring about changes to protect patients and people affected by medical accidents . AvMA works proactively with the relevant authorities, health professions and politicians to promote better patient safety and fairer systems of investigation and response when people are affected by medical accidents. Our campaigning helped ensure the National Patient Safety Agency and Healthcare Commission were created. We work with them to try to ensure lessons are learned and safety improved. We are also proactive in seeking improvements to complaints procedures and systems for awarding compensation to people affected by medical accidents.

Conferences and Event

AvMA are continually looking to develop training to enhance and develop awareness of patient safety issues. We develop in-house training for trusts as well as running external courses so if there is training you think we can help you with then please contact Michelle Handscomb on 020 8688 9555 and visit our website www.avma.org.uk to keep updated on our future courses.

Do you support AvMA ’s aims?

If you support AvMA ’s mission of patient safety and justice, we would like to hear from you. We can add you to our contact list and keep you informed of relevant news and developments. Volunteers can help AvMA in various ways – contact us to find out more. We also rely on fundraising and donations to a great extent. For details contact us at –

Action against Medical Accidents, 44 High Street , Croydon CR0 1YB

Tel: 020 8688 9555 / Fax: 020 8667 9065

e-mail: admin@avma.org.uk

website: www.avma.org.uk