Why words matter: talking to people who have dementia

Prof. Rowan Harwood explains how cognitive impairments make communication more complex, and shares his insights on how to talk to patients with...

Also in 2025, issue 2

In focus

Inquests and prevention of future deaths reports

Bansari Patel and Venessa Holt from our in-house legal team explain prevention of future deaths (PFD) reports – and what to do if you receive one.

Medico-legal dilemmas

A gift in a patient's will

A patient made a generous bequest in his will to his oncologist, who was uncertain of how to deal with such an unexpected offer.

Medico-legal dilemmas

Problems with performers list

When a GP registrar couldn't begin a practice post because he wasn't on the performers list, he called the MDU for advice on how to set things right.

Case study

Sepsis and safety-netting

A GP member contacted the MDU after receiving a complaint from the partner of a patient who had been admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of sepsis.

Read the issue in full

Learn and develop with the MDU

Browse our range of courses, e-learning, webinars and more.

What will you learn today?

Members' stories

Feature

Fatigue in the NHS: a member's experience

One MDU member shares their story of how fatigue affected their practice, and their patients.

Health and wellbeing

Interview

Speaking from experience: the value of peer-to-peer support

After a gruelling GMC investigation, a retired hospital consultant MDU member wanted to help others in the same situation.

Health and wellbeing Being sued

Feature

GMC investigation - an MDU member's story

One MDU member gives a personal account of weathering the storm of a GMC investigation.

Being sued Career Children and adolescents

Interviews

Interview

Creating a safe space to talk about weight

Weight should be a subject for conversation, not confrontation, says GP, educator and author Dr Rachel Pryke.

Communication

Interview

On the record: conversations and evolved consent

Consent is too often seen as a transaction rather than a conversation, says Dr Michael Quinn. He believes the process must evolve in the interests of patients and doctors - and that technology can support this transition.

Communication Consent

Interview

Beneath the White Coat: in conversation with Dame Clare Gerada

Dame Clare Gerada speaks to Dr Catherine Wills about doctors' mental health and her work with the charity Doctors in Distress.

Health and wellbeing

2025, issue 2