Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll: the only reasons for regulators to target individuals (23 August 2024)

Summary

This article in BMJ Quality & Safety looks at why healthcare regulators have failed to keep pace with the rapid pace of change to care and treatment happening within healthcare systems around the world. The authors identify key drivers for change in healthcare and outline the implications for systems and the healthcare professionals that work within them. They argue that in spite of the wide acceptance of a systems-based approach to healthcare safety, regulators still often target individuals with sanctions as this is what they have power to do. The article concludes by outlining the need for a new and future-oriented mindset from regulatory and supervisory bodies, characterised by dynamic responsiveness.