Overview

The Medical Innovation (No. 2) Bill aims to encourage responsible innovation in medical treatments in England and Wales, protecting doctors from negligence claims when deviating from standard practice if their decision is made responsibly and follows a defined process.

Description

This bill clarifies the circumstances under which a doctor can depart from standard medical practice to provide innovative treatments. It defines a "responsible" innovation as one based on careful consideration of several factors, including:

• Insufficient or unclear research/evidence relating to the condition.
• Relative risks and potential success rates of the proposed and other treatments.
• Likely consequences of applying or not applying the proposed treatment.
• Patient's opinions and requests.
• Other relevant factors considered necessary for a sound clinical judgement.

The bill mandates that the decision-making process be accountable and transparent, potentially involving a multi-disciplinary team, notification to a responsible officer, and explaining the rationale to the patient. Crucially, it does not permit treatment without consent or treatment for research purposes outside the patient's best interests.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify any government spending. The potential impact on spending is indirect and difficult to quantify. It could lead to increased costs if innovative treatments prove more expensive, but may also lead to cost savings if effective new treatments replace more costly existing ones.

Groups Affected

• Doctors: The bill offers them legal protection when responsibly innovating in treatment, reducing the risk of negligence lawsuits.
• Patients: They could benefit from access to innovative treatments but may also face increased risks if these innovations are not successfully implemented.
• Medical Research Community: The bill may encourage more research into treatments for rare or difficult conditions.
• Healthcare System: Potential increased or decreased costs associated with innovative treatments.

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