Doctors urged to own up to mistakes
A clinical negligence lawyer has launched a campaign at the British Medical Association conference.
Graeme Swain of Swain & Co Solicitors, which has offices in Havant, has called on the medical profession to admit its mistakes when it gets things wrong.
Mr Swain was lobbying delegates at the national conference where they were being asked to approve motions on issues concerning NHS whistleblowing.
The motions recognised there was often harassment of people who raised issues about care and training.
It was also noted that bullying of whistleblowers was commonplace and that the medical profession suffered from 'real or perceived gagging clauses' that prevented doctors speaking out.
Mr Swain, said: 'When a lawyer or an accountant makes a mistake they are legally obliged by their professional bodies to admit that mistake to their client and to do something to resolve the error. But that is simply not the case with doctors and I think it should be.
'There needs to be a complete change in the culture of the NHS and the medical profession so that when a mistake is made an admission immediately follows and action is taken to resolve the situation, rather than relying on a whistleblower to draw attention to a lack of care or neglect.
'In our experience most victims of medical mistakes and their relatives are really only looking for an explanation and an apology and to know that the same mistake will not be repeated again where the system itself has failed.'
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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