DLMS Optical Memories

Disclosure of medical error: Facts and fallacies

“…By admitting the error, physicians can obtain forgiveness and this decreases feelings of guilt. 58 Wu also found that those physicians who admitted mistakes were better able to learn from them, reducing defensive medical practices. 59 Finally, one study found that a person who admitted a mistake was better liked than a person who either denied the mistake or made no comment about the mistake.…”

“…Facts: A number of authors have observed that disclosing a medical error to a patient is beneficial for the patient. [54][55][56][57] The error itself causes a breach of trust, and by disclosing the error, the physician can begin to close that breach and restore trust, promoting renewed commitment to a therapeutic relationship. Disclosure of error also permits the patient to obtain follow-up treatment, give informed consent for further treatment, and prevent additional harm that might come about by the patient's reluctance to undergo further treatment.…”

“…Several authors note that disclosure of medical error should include an apology for the patient's suffering. [61][62][63] While apology may not be appropriate in all cases, it is gaining favor in many circles because it has been shown to confer psychological and physiological benefits to patients. 64 It also permits the provider to be forgiven, thereby alleviating the guilt associated with causing injury to a patient.…”