Healthcare Issues

Medical mistakes are naturally caused by human fallibility, and as we know errors are inevitable, and all that can be done is to reduce them. It is true that disclosure is an important thing in dealing with errors, because this will allow for quick remedial measures to be undertaken without pain and anger from the patient. The application of the principle of honesty in disclosure of medical errors which have caused harm to patients is professional mandatory requirement and responsibility. It has been proven that honest disclosures followed by sincere apologies and compensation reduce financial and legal exposure (Beauchamp et al, 2008).

Therefore, hospitals should be encouraged to disclose errors so as to avoid stiffer legal penalties and higher compensation rates. The medical practitioners should be educated on institutional policies and laws on apologies, disclosure and compensation. However, this measure should be applied with the other earlier stated preventive measures.

The best way to prevent medical errors is to order for extra medical test that will help in making and conclusive and confirmatory diagnosis. However, ordering extra tests may not be sufficient if the tests are not performed carefully and correctly, and thereafter interpreted properly. A third preventive step would be to establish all alternatives of possible medical measures that can be undertaken in the curative process, and thereafter select the least invasive and less likely to cause harm (Spath, 2004).

Extra tests may be necessary where there is doubt about a medical condition, and as such they are important. The only problem that extra tests pose is that they make the client incur extra expenses in getting the extra tests performed, and thus; increasing medical costs. The peer review implementation can be a potential way to avoid the extra tests, because it can be used as a confirmatory process that can correct errors. Additionally, the improvement of the all system is essential however, the process has to include all stakeholders. It is essential for the health practitioners to learn the importance of honest and early disclosures followed apologies and compensation. If this is done well then legal penalties and compensation should be reduced to encourage free-will disclosures of errors (Spath, 2004).

There are set ethical codes within organizations and these should be adhered to no matter what personal ethical stand a practitioner has as an individual. These should be clearly outlined and the consequences set clear. Communication should also be enhanced through PR programs so as to ensure the goals of the medical organization are achieved. This is important because individual workers cannot work on their own and expect to attain the goals and objectives of the medical institution (Aulisio et al, 2003).

References

Aulisio et al, (2003).Ethics consultation: from theory to practice. JHU Press.

Beauchamp et al, (2008).Contemporary issues in bioethics. Thomson/Wadsworth Publishers.

Spath, P. (2004). Partnering with patients to reduce medical errors. Health Forum Publishers.

Is this your assignment or some part of it?

We can do it for you! Click to Order!

Is this your assignment or some part of it?
We can do it for you!