title: Institutional disclosure: promise and problems.
abstract: This study explores rationale for and barriers to the prompt and honest disclosure by healthcare organizations of care-related un-intended harm to patients. Although fear of legal action is frequently put forward as the reason that disclosure programs have been slow to be adopted by the medical community, social and nonjurisprudential explanations also pose challenges. This study identifies multiple facilitators and obstacles that transcend concerns about litigation and limit disclosure of adverse events that result in serious injury or death.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs National Center for Patient Safety, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Seth W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Wolk
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sine
authors.forename: Douglas E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Paull
mesh_terms: D005239:Fear; D006740:Hospital Administrators; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs