Responding to medical errors — Implementing the modern ethical paradigm (23 January 2024)

Summary

Traditionally, recommendations regarding responding to medical errors focused mostly on whether to disclose mistakes to patients. Over time, empirical research, ethical analyses and stakeholder engagement began to inform expectations — which are now embodied in communication and resolution programmes (CRPs) — for how healthcare professionals and organisations should respond not just to errors but any time patients have been harmed by medical care (adverse events).

CRPs require several steps: quickly detecting adverse events, communicating openly and empathetically with patients and families about the event, apologising and taking responsibility for errors, analysing events and redesigning processes to prevent recurrences, supporting patients and clinicians, and proactively working with patients toward reconciliation. In this modern ethical paradigm, any time harm occurs, clinicians and health care organisations are accountable for minimising suffering and promoting learning. However, implementing this ethical paradigm is challenging, especially when the harm was due to an error.