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Error Disclosure

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Patient Safety

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Abstract

Promoting patient safety using systems assessments and analysis has shown promise in improving healthcare operations and delivery system resiliency to medical error occurrence. However, promoting patient safety through error disclosure and the creation of a transparent safety culture has not yet been rigorously assessed or implemented. We illustrate how the traditional, “deny and defend, shut up and fight” adversarial model is ineffective in addressing and identifying key safety concerns in health delivery systems, and then contrast this traditional method with an alternative, systems-focused approach to medical error disclosure and assessment. We also review some of the potential legal issues associated with apology and its use in disclosure systems. Finally, we provide some suggestions to integrate these processes into the delivery system culture to promote patient safety.

“For, confession of error is like a broom which sweeps away dirt and leaves the surface brighter and cleaner than before, I feel stronger for confession.”

Mohandas K. Gandhi

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Health Law Studies, California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA, USA

    Bryan A. Liang M.D., Ph.D., J.D.

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, San Diego Center for Patient Safety, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 350 Cedar Street, San Diego, CA, 92101, USA

    Bryan A. Liang M.D., Ph.D., J.D.

  3. Department of Family Medicine, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, 1630 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA, 92012, USA

    Kimberly M. Lovett M.D.

Authors
  1. Bryan A. Liang M.D., Ph.D., J.D.
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  2. Kimberly M. Lovett M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bryan A. Liang M.D., Ph.D., J.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian American Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Abha Agrawal

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Liang, B.A., Lovett, K.M. (2014). Error Disclosure. In: Agrawal, A. (eds) Patient Safety. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7419-7_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7419-7_21

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-7418-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7419-7

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