Answer 3 for HCA 675 What are the risks of revealing mistakes in an open culture, as a way of being transparent with patients and families?

Answer 3 for HCA 675 What are the risks of revealing mistakes in an open culture, as a way of being transparent with patients and families? 

Thank you for a great discussion on the issues surrounding error disclosure. Indeed, the financial, reputational, and liability aspects are fundamental concerns associated with medical error disclosures. Numerous medical professionals are afraid of revealing errors since it may expose them to reputational damage and sometimes lawsuits from upset patients and their families. Moreover, the revelation of such errors may negatively impact the profile of a hospital thus reducing patronage, hence the reason why some hospitals discourage the practice (Moffatt-Bruce, Ferdinand, & Fann, 2016). However, concealing mistakes and errors also has certain associated risks. One of the most sever risks entails predisposing the hospital and even a physician to lawsuits as this contravenes certain ethical obligations.

References

Moffatt-Bruce, S., Ferdinand, F. & Fann, J. (2016). Patient safety: disclosure of medical errors and risk mitigation. Retrieved from https://www.sts.org/sites/default/files/documents/patient_safety/DisclosureofMedicalErrors.pdf