Celebrating our 1st 125 years
2010 marks the 125th year of the MDU providing high quality defence, advice and support to our members.
The case of Dr David Bradley, who in 1885 was wrongly convicted of assaulting a woman patient in his surgery, caused outrage in the medical community. Although the doctor later received a full pardon, he served eight months' hard labour.
It was generally believed that the conviction would never have been secured if expert evidence had been submitted on Dr Bradley's behalf.
This case led to the formation of the MDU, the world's first medical defence organisation. Since that time, the MDU has gone from strength to strength and is now the leading medical defence organisation in the UK.
The story of the world's first medical defence organisation
We have produced a film celebrating the key events in our history – from the case that inspired doctors to form the MDU, right up to the present.
Featuring commentary from senior MDU executives and members past and present, the film charts the landmark cases that made medico-legal history and the MDU’s influence on medical practice. We have also included a timeline which highlights key events in our 125 year history.
If you are a member of the MDU, you can order a copy of the film on DVD
Doctors for doctors
The MDU was established 'to support and protect the character and interests of medical practitioners practising in the United Kingdom'.
It was - and still is - a mutual company, owned by members, and dedicated to supporting the medico-legal needs and reputations of all members throughout their professional lives.
The MDU's ethos of a "doctors for doctors" mutual remains as strong today as when the organisation was founded.
Early growth
In the early years, the MDU was managed by a seven-man executive committee, led by the first secretary Charles Rideal.
The annual subscription was just 10 shillings. The sum covered advice and legal defence only, not damages or legal costs.
Under the leadership of the first president Mr Lawson Tait, an eminent surgeon, the organisation quickly grew from just a few hundred members to several thousand.
By 1950 membership had reached 35,000.
Today, 185,000 medical and dental practitioners rely on the MDU for medico-legal advice, support and defence.
Member benefits
The benefits of membership of the MDU are all discretionary and are subject to the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
In addition, we provide the additional security of a professional indemnity insurance policy to most individual paying members. However, the MDU is not an insurance company.
Our Board and Executive are led by doctors and our Cases Committee, which reviews the conduct of individual cases, is made up of some of the most eminent members of the profession in the UK and Ireland.
Many of our staff have been in clinical practice and have faced the dilemmas and day-to-day problems enabling them to understand and identify with our members' concerns and issues.
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