FAST FACT AND CONCEPT #194: Disclosing Medical Error

Discussing an adverse outcome related to medical error is challenging under the best of circumstances—for both the clinician and the patient or family. Errors can damage a clinician's self-esteem, confidence, and reputation, and lead to costly and unpleasant legal action. Timely disclosure of error is now considered a standard of quality patient care. An empathic, open discussion can help restore trust while respecting a patient's autonomy and right to justice. Hospice and Palliative Care clinicians may themselves be the source of medical error, or be asked to comment on other clinician's actions by patients or families concerned that medical errors have led to a dying trajectory. This Fast Fact will address how to disclose error with a patient/family; Fast Fact #195 will discuss responding to a colleague's error.