Professional liability · Doctors and dentists · Portugal & Spain

Medical malpractice insurance for doctors and dentists

Private practice, your own dental clinic, aesthetic procedures, consultations in Portugal and in Spain. A doctor’s or dentist’s exposure depends on what they do, where and for whom — and the legal obligations are not the same in the two countries.

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ASF-registered insurance intermediary · Portugal & Spain · Written response in 48–72 business hours

Reviewed by Hugo Gonçalves, Founder & Risk Management Specialist at Adler & Rochefort · Degree in Business Management (University of Hertfordshire) · Ongoing training at the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), London.

The profession and where the risk sits

Claims against healthcare professionals in Portugal and Spain have been rising, particularly in private medicine, dentistry and aesthetic procedures, where the patient judges the result and not only the care. A claim can involve the professional, the clinic where they practise and the company that owns it — and each should know which policy answers.

Clinical and surgical acts — diagnosis, treatment, complications.
Dentistry — implants, orthodontics and extensive rehabilitation.
Aesthetic medicine and dentistry — expectations of result and informed consent.
Running the clinic — staff, equipment, premises and health data.

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Tell us the essentials and we'll come back to you within 48 to 72 business hours — a careful look at your real exposure takes longer than a generic form.

Ask for a quote — it takes under a minute

Leave just the essentials and we reply within 24 working hours. We ask for the rest by email.

What we will ask for your quote

After the first contact we ask for these details by email. If you have them to hand, you can send them now to insurance@adlerrochefort.com.

Name
Date of birth
Full address
Driving licence issue date
Registration number

By sending this form you agree to us using your details to prepare and discuss your quote, in line with our privacy policy. We never sell your data. Adler & Rochefort is a trading name of Ownizo, Unipessoal Lda., registered with the ASF under no. 425591790/3.

ASF-registered insurance brokerEnglish-speaking teamNot tied to one insurerWe handle the claim for youQuote in 48-72 business hours

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What is compulsory in Portugal and in Spain

Portugal

For dentists, the Statute of the Portuguese Dental Association (Estatuto da Ordem dos Médicos Dentistas, art. 21) makes practice conditional on professional liability insurance, with minimum conditions set by government order. For doctors, the Statute of the Ordem dos Médicos does not impose an equivalent general obligation; in practice, private hospitals, clinics and service contracts frequently require it.

Spain

Ley 44/2003 on the health professions requires healthcare professionals in private practice, and private entities providing health services, to hold liability insurance, a guarantee or another financial security (arts. 4.8 and 46). Autonomous communities may develop these requirements.

What the policy should cover

The acts you perform, described exactly — speciality, surgery, aesthetics, sedation.
Practice in Portugal and Spain, if you consult in both.
Claims-made cover with retroactive date, and run-off after you stop practising.
Legal defence in civil and disciplinary proceedings and, where provided, criminal ones.
The clinic — premises liability, staff and equipment — on a coordinated policy.

Common mistakes

Relying only on the clinic’s policy without knowing whether it covers you individually.
Not declaring aesthetic procedures or new techniques.
Starting to consult in Spain on a Portuguese policy without checking territory.
Overlooking health-data protection — a cyber risk, not only a clinical one.

Frequently asked questions

Is professional liability insurance compulsory for dentists in Portugal?

Yes. The Statute of the Ordem dos Médicos Dentistas (art. 21) makes practice conditional on professional liability insurance, with minimum conditions set by government order.

And for doctors?

The Statute of the Ordem dos Médicos does not set an equivalent general obligation. Most private providers and contracts still require cover, and the personal exposure is always there.

Who must be insured in Spain?

Healthcare professionals in private practice and private entities providing health services, under Ley 44/2003 (arts. 4.8 and 46), by insurance, guarantee or other financial security.

Does the clinic’s policy cover me?

It depends on the wording. Some cover only the entity; others include the professionals who work there, sometimes only employees and not self-employed practitioners. It is worth confirming in writing.