Doctors who have been open and honest with patients when something has gone wrong should not then be made scapegoats for system failures says the Medical Defence Union which represents over half of UK doctors. Responding to today's Health Committee Report on Complaints and Litigation*, Dr Michael Devlin, Head of advisory services at the MDU said:

"In the MDU's experience, most doctors already recognise they have an ethical duty to act immediately to put things right when there has been a problem with a patient's treatment, which usually involves explaining what has happened, the likely long and short term effects and to offer an apology. We always advise our members to be open and honest with patients and cooperate with any investigation into patient care.

"However, it's also important that individual doctors who take this responsible approach are not punished, simply because they have put their head above the parapet. We welcome the Committee's call for a change in culture so that the NHS 'is open to complaints [and] sees these in the light of systemic weaknesses and supports staff'. The root cause of many of the adverse incidents notified to the MDU is a systems failure, such as the way that test results are recorded or poor handover arrangements which are seldom the fault of one person. On behalf of our members, we wholeheartedly support the Committee's emphasis on improving patient care and safety, rather than indulging in a blame game which does a disservice to patients and doctors. The MDU believes it is important to defend our members robustly if they are made scapegoats for system failures."

* Insurance co-underwritten by SCOR UK Company Limited and by International Insurance Company of Hannover

Source:
MDU