Accidents don't happen any more: junior doctors' experience of fatal accident inquiries in Scotland.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the experience of junior doctors cited as witnesses at fatal accident inquiries (FAIs).


METHODS
Retrospective questionnaire study.


METHODS
40 junior doctors who had been involved in FAIs from January 1998 to August 2002 were identified by the Medical Protection Society and Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland: 21 completed questionnaires were returned, a response rate of 52.5%.


RESULTS
The process and objectives of FAIs were poorly understood. Few participants were proactive in contacting their defence union. There was a perceived lack of both formal and informal supports with respondents describing a "blame culture" within the medical profession. The experience of the FAI was generally considered stressful with respondents describing possible improvements relating to support, information, training, and the FAI procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Junior medical staff are poorly informed in this medicolegal area. There is a need for the development of mechanisms both to support junior doctors and to ensure that adverse incidents are dealt with using modern risk management techniques to minimise the risk of recurrence.
McCulloch
J
J
Carseview Centre, Ninewells Medipark, Dundee, Scotland. justine.mcculloch@nhs.net
Sykes
M
M
Haut
F
F
D000059:Accidents / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003675:Defensive Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012308:Risk Management; D012606:Scotland; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires