Apology in cases of medical error disclosure: Thoughts based on a preliminary study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Disclosing medical errors is considered necessary by patients, ethicists, and health care professionals. Literature insists on the framing of this disclosure and describes the apology as appropriate and necessary. However, this policy seems difficult to put into practice. Few works have explored the function and meaning of the apology.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the role ascribed to apology in communication between healthcare professionals and patients when disclosing a medical error, and to discuss these findings using a linguistic and philosophical perspective.

Methods

Qualitative exploratory study, based on face-to-face semi-structured interviews, with seven physicians in a neonatal unit in France. Discourse analysis.

Results

F

SUBMITTER: Dahan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5536280 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature