Surgeons less likely to disclose errors
Study says surgeons provide fewer details
A recent study suggests that compared to medical physicians, surgeons disclose less information about their errors.1 Nineteen percent of surgical specialists said they would explicitly mention the error to patients; in comparison, 58% of medical specialists said they would do so.
In the survey, mailed to medical and surgical physicians in the United States and Canada, participants received one of our scenarios depicting serious errors. The errors varied by specialty (medical and surgical) and by how obvious the error would be to the patient if not disclosed. Five questions measured what respondents would disclose using scripted statements.
In addition to suggesting that surgeons disclose less information to avoid an explicit apology for the error, the study indicates that surgeons tend to provide fewer details about preventing recurrences of errors, despite their greater reported willingness to disclose errors, says Thomas William Mayo, JD, director of the Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility; associate professor at the Southern Methodist University/Dedman School of Law; adjunct associate professor of internal medicine at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School; and counsel for Haynes and Boone; all in Dallas.
Respondents disclosed more information if they had positive disclosure attitudes, felt responsible for the error, had prior positive disclosure experiences, and were Canadian. "For a surgery manager, this [study] suggests the need to encourage surgeons to discuss their disclosure practices explicitly, to develop institutional guidelines for appropriate disclosure, and to consider training — when that is available — to improve interpersonal interactions, including communications about surgical error," Mayo says. "The time has arrived to consider the skillful disclosure of error as an essential aspect of high-quality patient care."
The disclosure of medical errors may be required under some circumstances, but it is a good idea under all circumstances, Mayo maintains. "Skillful and sensitive disclosure can enhance the trust relationship between physician and patient, or at least help prevent the loss of trust that may otherwise result when a serious error has occurred," he says.
Honesty is one component of disclosure, but it is not the only one, Mayo says. "The timing of the disclosure, the amount of information disclosed, the use of blame-shifting language, and the apparent willingness to continue to provide honest, helpful support as more information becomes available — these are all elements of effective, patient-oriented disclosure," Mayo says.
A recent study suggests that compared to medical physicians, surgeons disclose less information about their errors. Nineteen percent of surgical specialists said they would explicitly mention the error to patients; in comparison, 58% of medical specialists said they would do so.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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