Seyyedeh Mojgan Ghalandarpoor, Fariba Asghari, Ahmad Kaviyani, Mahrokh Daeemi,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (5-2011)
Abstract
Admitting medical errors is one of the professional obligations of physicians that unfortunately involves numerous challenges. The present paper aimed to investigate the attitude of surgery faculty and residents towards medical error disclosure and factors affecting it. In this cross-sectional descriptive and analytic study, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed among all faculty and residents of the department of general surgery of the teaching hospitals of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The response rate was 84.1% (53 out of a total of 63).
Tendency to make minor and major errors among the respondents was 39.6% and 49.1% respectively, and 71.7% declared that the most significant factor hindering error disclosure was fear of litigation. Only 16.7% (8) had disclosed their most recent medical errors to their patients, 25% (2) of whom had to face legal action.
There seems to be a clear distinction between the doctors’ inclination to disclose their medical errors and what actually happens in their practice, the most important reason being their professed fear of litigation. Considering the need in the majority of physicians for appropriate training on the subject of medical errors and communication strategies, it seems that in order to resolve this issue, changes need to be made in the current system for error management so as to provide professional support for physicians who make medical errors, and doctors should receive the necessary training on ethical principles and patient communication strategies.
Nafiseh Momeni, Mojgan Alaeddini, Shahroo Etemad-Moghadam,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
Various decision-making dilemmas arise for clinician in their practice, and one such dilemma involves dealing with medical or dental errors. Despite efforts to minimize errors and prevent harm to patients, complications arising from diagnostic or therapeutic mistakes can sometimes be irreversible. In such situations, it is crucial for dentists to engage in ethical encounters with their patients and investigate the root cause of the error. In this study, an approach was suggested for the management of detection of diagnostic error in pathology using the World Dental Federation ethical decision-making model.
Mohammad Rafiezadeh, Mahshad Noroozi, Akram Hashemi, Saeedeh Saeedi Tehrani,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Physicians often refrain from disclosing their errors for various reasons, including fear of legal claims and the stigma of incompetence. Engaging in professional behavior requires not only adequate knowledge but also a proper attitude toward the behavior in question. Accordingly, understanding physicians’ attitudes is essential for preventing unprofessional conduct under different circumstances. Consequently, the present study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of medical interns toward the disclosure of medical errors at Iran University of Medical Sciences. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among all interns admitted in 2017 at Iran University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using the Persian version of the Medical Errors Scale and analyzed with SPSS software version 26. Among the 186 participants, 66% reported having committed a medical error. Only 21% of interns fully disclosed errors that had no significant adverse effects on the patient, and the final outcome was favorable. In contrast, in situations where errors resulted in severe consequences for the patient, 31% of participants fully disclosed the error. The findings indicated that most interns avoid fully disclosing their medical errors. Fear of legal action by patients and concerns about being underestimated by them were the two primary reasons reported by participants for nondisclosure of errors. Therefore, further studies are required to propose effective solutions and improve physicians’ performance and patient safety.
