100116L - DISCLOSURE OF MEDICAL ERRORS

Lecture to 6^th year medical students KFMC Medical College Riyadh on 16^th January 2010 by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr.

Summary

Disclosure of medical errors by a physician takes 2 forms. The physician is ethically required to inform the patient so that the patient can take any measures necessary to protect himself or herself from further harm. A physician who sees a medical error is required to report it and not keep quiet. This action is called whistle blowing may put the reporting physician in problems with his colleagues and his institution but he has to take the risk of reporting.

Case #1: A physician prescribed a new unlicensed drug donated to him by a pharmaceutical company. The physician had shares in the company. He had no previous personal knowledge of the drug. The patient developed an immediate allergic reaction. The physician blamed the nurse for not asking about drug allergies before injecting the drug. The nurse wanted to report the case to the authorities but was afraid of losing her job.

Case #2: A 60-year old surgeon was known by everybody in the hospital to cause pain while examining patients without prior explanation and consent. He used to make lewd jokes about female patients. He discussed diagnoses with his drinking partners and details of many patients were known in the community. A junior doctor who complained to the hospital director was told to keep quiet. Nobody else dared to complain about him because of his seniority.