title: Being open with patients and learning how to apologize.
abstract: This article outlines the National Patient Safety Agency's 'Being Open' policy and argues that it has the potential to create a much more patient-centred NHS. However, it is very easy to say the word 'sorry', but much harder to say the word effectively and in a meaningful way. The NHS should not underestimate the task that lies ahead in implementing the 'Being Open' policy; ingrained defensive cultures do not change overnight.
authors.affiliation: Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tingle
mesh_terms: D032781:Codes of Ethics; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D016134:Organizational Policy; D013222:State Medicine; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D006113:United Kingdom