Doctors not open about mistakes, finds researcher

A SENIOR medical researcher has expressed concern that doctors are not being open about the incidence of surgical errors given the low level of reporting of clinical mistakes by medical staff.

Oisín Breathnach, a lecturer at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland said doctors accounted for just 4% of all adverse surgical incidents reported to the Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS) which is overseen by the State Claims Agency.

“The low figure of reporting of adverse events among medical staff is concerning, in particular when the guidelines in relation to dealing with error from the World Health Organisation are reviewed,” said Mr Breathnach.