Patients ‘entitled to be told of failings in their care’

A patient advocacy group says it is deeply disappointing the Government may decide against introducing ‘statutory open disclosures’, a legal obligation on doctors and health professionals to tell patients when there has been a serious failing in their care.

An amendment to the Civil Liability Bill, due to be brought to the Seanad tomorrow, would allow doctors and healthcare professionals to advise patients when an adverse event takes place without admitting liability.

However, the Irish Patients’ Association (IPA) says the amendment does not go far enough, as patients have the right to be told when something goes wrong and suggested an obligation under law, to support such rights, should be put in place.