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To tell the truth

Ethical and practical issues in disclosing medical mistakes to patients

Journal of General Internal Medicine volume 12, pages 770–775 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

While moonlighting in an emergency room, a resident physician evaluated a 35-year-old woman who was 6 months pregnant and complaining of a headache. The physician diagnosed a “mixed tension/sinus headache.” The patient returned to the ER 3 days later with an intracerebral bleed, presumably related to eclampsia, and died.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Policy and Management School of Hyygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md

    Albert W. Wu MD, MPH

  2. Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md

    Albert W. Wu MD, MPH

  3. Department of Philosophy, University of San Francisco, Calif

    Thomas A. Cavanaugh PhD

  4. Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

    Stephen J. McPhee MD, Bernard Lo MD & Guy P. Micco MD

Authors
  1. Albert W. Wu MD, MPH
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  2. Thomas A. Cavanaugh PhD
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  3. Stephen J. McPhee MD
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  4. Bernard Lo MD
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  5. Guy P. Micco MD
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Wu, A.W., Cavanaugh, T.A., McPhee, S.J. et al. To tell the truth. J GEN INTERN MED 12, 770–775 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.1997.07163.x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.1997.07163.x

Keywords

  • House Officer
  • Incompetent Patient
  • Medical Mistake
  • Harvard Medical Practice Study
  • Malpractice Insurer