Medical Protection Society

The Medical Protection Society (MPS) is a not for profit organisation which offers legal and ethical help to health professionals.

Founded in 1892, with just 13 original members all practising in the home counties of England, it now officially the largest organisation of its type in the world.

It mainly offers services of a medico-legal nature to the medical and dental professions. It is one of three major medical defence organisations (MDOs).

Functions of the MPS
Members of the MPS look to the organisation for help and advice as well as for the protection and legal defence of their professional reputations.

Its activities take in the areas of medical negligence and related claims handling, general assistance with complaints, representation at inquests and fatal accident inquiries, General Medical Council conduct issues (e.g. performance, health), other disciplinary procedures, and involvement in courts martial and criminal investigations (including murder and manslaughter).

The MPS also advises governmental and non-governmental organisations on issues of relevance to its activities, and also issues general statements providing members with advice.

While it is based in the United Kingdom, the MPS currently has a membership of over 225,000 worldwide and is highly active in many countries around the world, including Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Competitors include the Medical Defence Union, or MDU, and the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, or MDDUS.