| Senior doctors are calling for greater transparency | | | | apologising could in fact lead patients to make legal |
| and honesty in events of medical errors being made | | | | claims against them, as well as risking action from the |
| and even believe that increased openness with | | | | General Medical Council. Despite this commonly held |
| patients could significantly reduce the number of | | | | view, many still argue that a carefully presented and |
| medical negligence claims which are taken to court. | | | | sensitive apology with an explanation of what went |
| At present, some doctors believe that all too often, | | | | wrong and what will be done to avoid it happening |
| victims of medical errors and their families are | | | | again in the future can diffuse the situation and could |
| resorting to consulting solicitors simply because | | | | actually reduce medical negligence claims. |
| doctors often close ranks and patients do not get | | | | It is certainly true that the entire process of launching |
| the apology and explanation they so desperately | | | | clinical negligence claims is stressful for the victims |
| want for their own peace of mind. | | | | and families concerned. It is also true that many |
| For the victims, claim some commentators, money is | | | | patients feel driven to legal action not by desire for |
| not important and is far from the driving factor in | | | | money, but by desire to find peace of mind by way |
| making legal claims following errors and negligence. In | | | | of an explanation and apology. If transparency was |
| fact, they claim patients and their families feel driven | | | | encouraged from the start, maybe more victims |
| to legal action by what they feel is secrecy and lack | | | | could concentrate on their recovery than on a legal |
| of openness on the part of the doctors and the NHS. | | | | battle. |
| Paradoxically, many practising doctors are fearful of | | | | This topic is discussed on my Raleys Solicitors blog. |
| apologising over errors they make, believing that | | | | |