Legal Expense Coverage
Protection When You Need It Most
Legal challenges don't announce themselves—they arrive unexpectedly, threatening both your medical career and personal well-being. DefenseMD's Legal Expense Group Coverage provides our members the financial support and legal representation physicians need when facing these critical moments.
The Protection Gap: Where CMPA Ends,
DefenseMD Begins
Many physicians discover too late that the CMPA's support for College complaints is limited and discretionary. When facing administrative matters, professional conduct issues, or personal legal challenges, they're often left to navigate complex legal waters alone—precisely when expert guidance matters most.
DefenseMD fills this gap with group coverage that complements the CMPA's protection, ensuring our members are never without support when their reputation, career, and peace of mind are at stake.
Our Member's Coverage Benefits *1
Access to a Lawyer
of Their Choice
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Members can select the legal representation they trust from the earliest stages of a legal issue, when intervention is most effective.
Professional Career &
Personal Life Coverage
Members benefit from professional protection covering:
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Regulatory investigations
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Disciplinary inquiries
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Billing practice reviews
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Professional conduct matters
Members' protection extends beyond their practice with support for:
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Consumer disputes
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Tax audits
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Employment conflicts
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Identity theft
Generous
Coverage Limits
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Members benefit from an annual aggregate limit of $50,000 for judicial fees and legal costs, with a per-dispute limit of $25,000.
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No deductible. Members enjoy full access to coverage without any upfront costs.
*1. Disclaimer: DefenseMD is not an insurance company or insurance broker. Legal Expense Coverage is provided to our members through our group insurance policy underwritten by a licensed Canadian insurance company. All insurance coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations outlined in our group insurance policy.
Protecting Your Professional Career
As a healthcare professional, your career stands on the foundation of trust, competence, and regulatory compliance. When challenges arise that threaten this foundation, immediate expert legal guidance is essential. DefenseMD members benefit from legal expense group coverage that provides vital support during critical moments, helping to prevent complaints or investigations from escalating unnecessarily due to mishandling in their initial stages.
Disciplinary and Professional Misconducts
Members benefit from legal support if their professional regulatory body initiates an investigation, inquiry, or hearing related to discipline, professional misconduct, incompetence, or a formal complaint. Complementing the CMPA's malpractice protection, this coverage focuses on regulatory and disciplinary matters that typically fall outside the CMPA's scope.
Examples / Scenarios:
Allegation of Professional Misconduct:
A member's colleague files a complaint with a regulatory body alleging that the member violated confidentiality by sharing non-patient-related sensitive workplace information. The regulatory body begins an inquiry into whether this constitutes professional misconduct.
Disciplinary Action for Social Media Use:
A member posts a comment on social media that is perceived as unprofessional or controversial by their regulatory body. The regulatory body initiates disciplinary proceedings to determine if the member's online behavior violates their code of conduct.
Competence Review Due to a Complaint:
A patient files a formal complaint with a member's regulatory body, claiming dissatisfaction with how their case was handled (without alleging malpractice). The regulatory body investigates whether the complaint indicates a broader issue with the member's competence.
Disclaimer: DefenseMD is not an insurance company or insurance broker. Legal Expense Coverage is provided to our members through our group insurance policy underwritten by a licensed Canadian insurance company. All insurance coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations outlined in our group insurance policy. The examples / scenarios provided above are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an admission or guarantee of coverage.
Protecting Your Personal Life
The stresses of medical practice are significant enough without adding personal legal challenges to the mix. DefenseMD members benefit from protection that extends beyond their practice to key areas of their private lives, addressing personal legal matters that the CMPA does not cover. This group coverage provides peace of mind and financial security during stressful situations that can impact both professional performance and personal well-being—from identity theft to tax disputes
Consumer Transactions
Members benefit from protection in their personal lives if they need to take legal action in disputes involving fraud, forgery, deceitful practices, or illegal sales or leases related to a purchase or service. This coverage also extends to disputes about false advertising or when a merchant fails to meet their obligations in a consumer transaction. In short, it ensures members aren't left vulnerable when dealing with dishonest or unethical business practices in their private affairs.
Examples / Scenarios:
Fraudulent Car Purchase :
A member buys a used car from a dealership that advertises it as "certified pre-owned" and in excellent condition. Shortly after the purchase, they discover that the car has significant mechanical issues and was involved in an accident that wasn't disclosed. The dealership refuses to take responsibility.
Deceptive Home Appliance Sale:
A member purchases an expensive refrigerator for their home based on claims that it is energy-efficient and comes with a 5-year warranty. After a few months, the appliance breaks down, and the manufacturer refuses to honor the warranty, claiming it doesn't apply.
Rental Agreement :
A member rents an apartment for personal use, but after moving in, they find out that the landlord failed to disclose major issues like faulty plumbing or unsafe living conditions. When they try to resolve the issue, the landlord denies responsibility or refuses to make repairs.
Disclaimer: DefenseMD is not an insurance company or insurance broker. Legal Expense Coverage is provided to our members through our group insurance policy underwritten by a licensed Canadian insurance company. All insurance coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations outlined in our group insurance policy. The examples / scenarios provided above are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an admission or guarantee of coverage.
