Most professions now require their members to maintain professional indemnity insurance. The extent of that insurance depends upon the terms of the insurance policy but minimum levels of cover are generally mandatory for professionals.
In Scotland solicitors must have a minimum level of indemnity insurance of £2M per claim. Advocates in Scotland have a minimum level of insurance of £500,000.
Similar rules of professional indemnity cover apply to insurance brokers, architects, surveyors and accountants.
Many medical practitioners and those professions allied to medicine such as nurses, dentists and other therapists also hold professional indemnity insurance. Where a professional is negligent in the course of his duties as an employee the employer will be vicariously liable for the negligence. This rule applies whether those services are provided by the NHS or by a private medical provider.
For more information about professional indemnity insurance or any aspect of the law of professional negligence please contact us by telephone or by e-mail to arrange a free initial consultation with one of our business lawyers based in Scotland.