US and Canadian Physicians' Attitudes and Experiences Regarding Disclosing Errors to Patients
Authors:
- Thomas H. GallagherTGThomas H. Gallagher
- Amy D. WatermanAWAmy D. Waterman
- Jane M. GarbuttJGJane M. Garbutt
- Julie M. KappJKJulie M. Kapp
- David K. ChanDCDavid K. Chan
- W. Claiborne DunaganWDW. Claiborne Dunagan
- Victoria J. FraserVFVictoria J. Fraser
- Wendy LevinsonWLWendy Levinson
Open Access
- 14 August 2006
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in Archives of internal medicine (1960)
- Vol. 166 (15) , 1605-1611
Abstract
Efforts are being launched around the world to enhance patient safety. Following the US Institute of Medicine report, To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System,1 England, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada also identified adverse events and errors as a major health problem.2-5 In addition, standards that promote open communication with patients following such events are rapidly emerging. In the United States, hospital accreditation standards and some state laws require that patients be told about “unanticipated outcomes,”6,7 and Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton introduced legislation requiring harmful errors be disclosed to patients.8 Programs to enhance communication with patients following adverse events and errors also have been recently implemented in the United Kingdom and Australia.9,10 However, studies5,11-14 in multiple countries suggest that as little as 30% of harmful errors may be disclosed to patients. Failing to communicate effectively with patients following errors could reduce patient trust in physicians' integrity and may increase the likelihood of a lawsuit.15,16Keywords
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