Medical harm and the consequences of error for doctors.
Mistakes in medicine, particularly when patients have suffered harm as a result, are of ethical concern as breaching a fundamental injunction in medicine: "first do not harm". To minimise the chances of a recurrence, an effective response to harm must take into account both the concerns of patients who have been harmed and the concerns of doctors who may fear extreme outcomes if a mistake is admitted. There is an apparent conflict between a need to respond to errors non-punitively, on the one hand, and ethical and legal requirements for accountability and compensation for anyone harmed, on the other. There is also confusion between arguments for a "blame-free" culture in the healthcare system and the need to attribute responsibility in some cases. Important elements in an ethical response to mistakes include disclosure to the patient and family; taking appropriate clinical steps to mitigate any harm that may result from a mistake; identifying the process leading to harm; and responding in an appropriate and humane manner to minimise the likelihood of any recurrence.
McNeill
Paul M
PM
School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney. paul.mcneill@unsw.edu.au
Walton
Merrilyn
M
D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019300:Medical Errors; D008508:Medication Errors; D011247:Pregnancy; D014342:Truth Disclosure