Doctors need to be more open about mistakes

I READ with interest your article headlined ‘Doctors not open about mistakes, finds researcher’ (October 18).

This is useful research which should be interpreted with care.

For example, the higher percentage of reporting by nurses and midwives compared with medical staff (including doctors) could be due to the nature of the reporting systems in place.

The important thing is that there is a nominated person responsible for reporting and that these incidents are reported and lessons learned accordingly. What your article also highlights is the broader issue of openness about mistakes.

While providing indemnity for clinical negligence claims to more than 270,000 doctors and dentists worldwide, we have long endorsed the importance of being open with patients when things go wrong.

There are two key considerations when thinking about the issue of clinical errors.

The first is that we need to develop a culture of openness. This means hospitals and practices supporting their clinical staff to be open and senior staff leading by example.

Doctors sometimes don’t admit mistakes because they fear the ramifications of being “blamed and shamed”. Whereas others simply don’t know how to deliver bad news, highlighting the need for more comprehensive training to improve communications skills.

The second point is that by being open, lessons can be learned and remedies can be put in place to prevent the recurrence of mistakes.

If healthcare professionals don’t feel they can ‘confess’ their errors, then key opportunities to improve patient safety will be missed.

I agree with the sentiments in the article about the low reporting rate being a concern, but this rate will only rise when we have a culture of openness and doctors work in environments where they feel supported to report adverse events.

Dr Stephanie Bown

Director of Policy and Communications

Medical Protection Society

Cavendish Square

London W1GOPS