Why you need your student indemnity insurance
Thursday, 15 December 2022
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 can be critical to a successful career. You can protect your career by having a professional indemnity policy in place. While your university may provide some indemnity cover, it may not cover you in every instance.
Elective or clinical placement errors
Unfortunately, electives or clinical placements do not always run smoothly, even when you are being supervised by a medical practitioner. Your university may have indemnity insurance to cover you for civil liability claims. However, an Avant Student Indemnity Insurance policy can also offer protection associated with private patients in some circumstances where you may not be covered by your university.
Complaints and coronial matters
If you are on a placement and are involved in the treatment of a patient who dies, an Avant Student Indemnity Insurance policy can cover the legal fees to defend you. The cover includes disciplinary, coronial and criminal proceedings and investigations, if your university policy does not cover this.
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 can cover your defence.
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.
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 an Avant Student Indemnity Insurance 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.
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.
Please note
Avant student indemnity insurance 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.
Disclaimers
IMPORTANT: This publication is not comprehensive and does not constitute legal or medical advice. You should seek legal or other professional advice before relying on any content, and practise proper clinical decision making with regard to the individual circumstances. Persons implementing any recommendations contained in this publication 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.
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