Discussing adverse outcomes with patients and families.
Complications and undesired outcomes happen to some patients of virtually all physicians, at all stages in their careers. Bad outcomes can be a consequence of disease processes, the premorbid condition of the patient, or the errors that occur in the process of health care. These errors include, but are by no means confined to, surgeon error. Regardless of the reason for the bad outcome, the surgeon is obligated to discuss the event with the patient and the family. This article reviews the benefits, barriers, and legal implications of the discussion and describes the disclosure process.
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 8th Floor, 600 North Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Rachel
R
Bluebond-Langner
Eduardo D
ED
Rodriguez
Albert W
AW
Wu
D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D055815:Young Adult