Affiliation:
1. National Cancer Centre Singapore
2. National University of Singapore, Singapore
Abstract
Recognising the impact of medical errors on patients and the doctor-patient relationship has underscored the need for better communication.1,2 For the most part, these efforts are informed by Chafe et al.’s 6 steps that entail: (1) the identification of the error in a timely fashion; (2) determination of the extent of the error; (3) constitution of a workgroup to establish the scope of the review; (4) identification of affected patients; (5) scrutiny of clinical records; and (6) the act of informing patients and other stakeholders.3-6 The apology and open disclosure are then said to be built upon this platform.
Publisher
Academy of Medicine, Singapore
Reference7 articles.
1. Prentice JC, Bell SK, Thomas EJ, et al. Association of open communication and the emotional and behavioural impact of medical error on patients and families: state-wide cross-sectional survey. BMJ Qual Saf 2020;29:883-94.
2. Manias E, Street M, Lowe G, et al. Associations of person related, environment-related and communication-related factors on medication errors in public and private hospitals: a retrospective clinical audit. BMC Health Serv Res 2021;21:1025.
3. Chafe R, Levinson W, Sullivan T. Disclosing errors that affect multiple patients. CMAJ 2009;180:1125-7.
4. National Patient Safety Agency. Being open: Communicating patient safety incidents with patients and their carers, 2005. https://minhalexander.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/1334_ beingopenpolicy.pdf. Accessed 15 November 2023.
5. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare. Open disclosure standard: a national standard for open communication in public and private hospitals following an adverse event in healthcare, 2008. https://www.safetyandquality. gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/OD-Standard-2008.pdf. Accessed 15 November 2023.