Professional indemnity insurance for dietitians

Like all medical professionals, dietitians are required to have indemnity insurance to limit liability of claims made against them. Dietitians only provide dietary advice; they do not perform surgery or medical procedures so their insurance requirements differ to that of a doctor. As their advice has the ability to impact on a client's physical well being, dietitians also require different coverage to lawyers or accountants.

A dietitian is similar to a nutritionist but you have to be accredited to be considered a dietitian. If you do not have accreditation then you cannot call yourself a dietitian for insurance purposes.

Limiting liability: coverage for dietitians

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) is one of the major associations relevant to dietitians. As a general rule, coverage of below $2 million is insufficient to cover practitioners against all indemnity claims. It is recommended that policies of between $2 million and $10 million be taken out.

Professional indemnity insurance safeguards the dietitian against personal injury claims including public liability.

The level of coverage that dietitians are allowed to take out depends on a range of variables. Employment status, place of employment and work hours per week are major factors.

Practitioners with dual qualifications such as dietitian/exercise physiologist are only able to choose indemnity insurance above $5 million as anything lower is not sufficient to cover any claims. You should speak to your insurer to determine the coverage that is right for you.

The DAA is affiliated with insurance company, Guild. Guild are the preferred insurer by the DAA because they specifically cater to this profession. They know the industry requirements and help ensure the professional integrity of dietitians. Both organisations are recommended points of contact for those who seek more personalised advice.