Blaming, naming and a just culture (BMJ Leader, 21 November 2022)

Summary

Adam Tasker spent over a decade in the Royal Navy before starting medical training at the University of Warwick. In this article for BMJ Leader, he reflects on a near miss incident that he was involved in while working as a Helicopter Warfare Officer, examining his attitudes and those of his colleagues, and the practices and behaviours of the squadron’s leaders. He compares his experience in the Royal Navy to that of his experience as a medical student, and identifies lessons that are relevant to medical training, professional expectations and the management of clinical incidents. These lessons aim to support the implementation of a Just Culture within the NHS.