Not sure why you need
your professional indemnity insurance when your university already provides you
with indemnity cover? Understand the scenarios where you may need the assistance
of Avant.
In medicine there is a degree of inherent risk and
your reputation is critical to a successful career. You can protect your career
by having the right professional indemnity policy in place. While your
university may provide some indemnity cover, it may not cover you in every
instance.
Good Samaritan acts
When you aid a person in an emergency – a person on a bus who has
fainted, someone involved in a car accident or a child who is choking –
sometimes things can go wrong. Under Avant’s policy, you are covered for Good
Samaritan acts both in Australia and overseas. Your university policy may not
cover you when you’re not undertaking university-related work.
Elective or
clinical placement errors
Unfortunately, electives or
clinical placements do not always run smoothly. In some circumstances your
university may not cover you so if you don’t have insurance and a claim is made
against you, you could potentially be left to fund your own legal advice and
defence costs, which could cost you tens of thousands of dollars.
Overseas incidents
If you head overseas
(excluding the USA) for an elective and end up in hot water at the hospital
where you are working, your Avant
Student Indemnity Insurance Policy will cover your defence.
Complaints and coronial matters
If you are on a
placement and are involved in the treatment of a patient who dies, our policy
covers the legal fees to defend you arising from disciplinary, coronial and
criminal proceedings and investigations. Your university policy may not cover this.
Communicable diseases
No medical student wants to think about contracting a
communicable disease during their studies. However, if you do contract HIV,
hepatitis B or hepatitis C, Avant’s policy will help you to undertake
substantial re-training. While hopefully you’ll never need this cover, it
demonstrates just how extensive our policy is.
Voluntary clinical
placements
If you win a prize that includes a
voluntary placement, or decide to do a voluntary placement outside the
requirements of your course, Avant will provide cover as long as you are
supervised by a medical practitioner and the placement is in Australia.
Cover is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the
policy. Please read and consider the policy wording Avant - Medical Student Indemnity Insurance Policy.
Learn more
Find out more about your Avant
Student Indemnity Insurance Policy. If you would like more information about
your policy or the benefits that come with it, contact our Member Services team
on 1800 128 268 or email memberservices@avant.org.au.
IMPORTANT: This article is not comprehensive and does not constitute legal or medical advice. You should seek legal or other professional advice before relying on its content, and practise proper clinical decision making with regard to the individual circumstances. Persons implementing any recommendations contained in this article must exercise their own independent skill or judgement or seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their own particular practice. Compliance with any recommendations will not in any way guarantee discharge of the duty of care owed to patients and others coming into contact with the health professional or practice. Avant is not responsible to you or anyone else for any loss suffered in connection with the use of this information. Information is only current at the date initially published. © Avant Mutual Group Limited 2023