| We meant no harm, yet we made a mistake; why not apologize for it? A student's view. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20532591 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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This essay explores the unique perspective of medical students regarding the ethical challenges of providing full disclosure to patients and their families when medical mistakes are made, especially when such mistakes lead to tragic outcomes. This narrative underscores core precepts of the healing profession, challenging the health care team to be open and truthful, even when doing so is uncomfortable. This account also reminds us that nonabandonment is an obligation that assumes accountability for one's actions in the healing relationship and that apologizing for mistakes can serve to heal. It argues that even medical students have an obligation to speak up when actions violate their moral beliefs, even if this means confronting a superior. Ethical principles cannot be abandoned in fear of adverse evaluation or failure to conform. Healthcare workers have an obligation to address mistakes made around the time of a patient's death with the patient's family. This responsibility trumps any selfish desire to avoid unpleasant feelings of guilt or regret. Such events often bring closure to already anguished relatives and spouses, and may help to facilitate the grieving process. This includes pressing forward the need to apologize to patients and/or their families when mistakes are made and when decisions are made that lead to poor outcomes for the patient, even when benevolently intended. |
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Authors:
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Dominic E Sanford; David A Fleming |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: HEC forum : an interdisciplinary journal on hospitals' ethical and legal issues Volume: 22 ISSN: 1572-8498 ISO Abbreviation: HEC Forum Publication Date: 2010 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-08-03 Completed Date: 2010-12-10 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8917455 Medline TA: HEC Forum Country: Netherlands |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 159-69 Citation Subset: H |
Affiliation:
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MU Center for Health Ethics, University of Missouri School of Medicine, CE724-1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Clinical Clerkship Ethics, Medical / education Humans Lung Neoplasms / therapy Male Medical Errors* Middle Aged Professional-Patient Relations / ethics* Resuscitation Orders Truth Disclosure / ethics* United States |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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