Recognition of medical error: It is not too late for an open disclosure - a narrative review

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Medical errors are preventable adverse events in healthcare.
• These errors lead to ethical, financial, and psychological issues for patients, physicians, and institutions.
• Patient harm can be physical, causing disability and eroding trust in healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify obstacles hindering open disclosure of medical errors.
• To propose a structured approach for managing medical errors through open disclosure.
• To emphasize the moral and ethical imperative of error disclosure.

Main Methods:

• This study is a narrative review of existing literature on medical errors and disclosure.
• The review analyzes barriers within medical education and practice that impede open communication.
• A ten-step framework for open disclosure is presented.

Main Results:

• Significant obstacles to open disclosure include educational gaps and fear of repercussions among physicians.
• Physicians often resist disclosing errors due to concerns about legal and financial consequences.
• Open disclosure is identified as a crucial ethical duty.

Conclusions:

• Addressing medical errors requires overcoming systemic and individual barriers to open disclosure.
• Implementing a clear, ten-step process can facilitate effective error management.
• Promoting transparency in medical error reporting enhances patient safety and trust.