What Should You Do if You Witness A Healthcare Provider Make A Mistake?

If you truly believe that you have witnessed a health care provider make a clinical mistake you must speak up. It is critical to speak up when a mistake is made rather than face any catastrophic consequences of a mistake that might go unnoticed. These mistakes can include care givers not washing their hands, exhibiting incompetence, demonstrating disrespect that shuts down lines of communication, not following sterile procedure when appropriate, not following up with abnormal diagnostic test results, making medication errors, etc.

The vast majority of clinicians want to do the right thing. They don’t want to harm or hurt their patients. They don’t want their patients to get an infection or stay in the hospital longer than necessary. But sometimes, things do happen ... and mistakes are made. No one is perfect.  No one is immune.  One hundred thousand patients lose their lives each year from unintentional medical mistakes. 

It is assumed that everyone who works in the health care setting embraces  the core values that are inherent within the health care industry. Those values include “ Do no harm”. They also include integrity, honesty and transparency. With that being said, you must express your concern to the healthcare provider involved about what you witnessed in a non-accusatory manner and give him or her the opportunity to explain what transpired.  If the provider does not respond to your concern in a satisfactory manner, you must tell the individual that you remain uncomfortable with what you witnessed and with the explanation that you received. You should ask about possible consequences for such clinical behavior. How will the behavior effect the patient on a short term basis? On a long term basis? Is there anything that should be done to rectify or minimize the situation?  What can be done to make sure it doesn’t happen again... to me, my loved one or another patient? 

If you remain unsatisfied after your conversation with the health care provider, speak with the Nurse Manager of the unit.  You can also ask to speak with the supervisor of that particular health care provider (the Director of Nursing, the Head of the Surgery Department, the Head of the Physical Therapy Department, etc). Many hospitals today have Patient Advocate Departments. While the Advocates care, they have little power to do anything, and regardless of how much they care about the patient, the reality is that they are a paid agent of the hospital. When all else fails, the hospital clergy is always ready and willing to listen and to intervene appropriately, regardless of the patient’s religious affiliation. You can also each out to the hospital’s Patient-Family Advisory Council for such purpose.

If the patient has been seriously harmed by the behavior you witnessed, you may want to speak with a Malpractice Attorney. 

Anecdotal:

My 33 year old brother-in-law, Marty, was a patient in the ICU of a large NYC hospital. He was in a medically induced coma and on a breathing machine (ventilator) after suffering horrific side effects from his first chemotherapy treatment for Stage IV Metastatic Colon Cancer. The chemo was not going to save his life,  but buy him some time to enjoy his brand new baby daughter. His immune system was gravely compromised from the chemo and he quickly  became infected with a systemic yeast infection. He was put on reverse isolation which meant that anyone coming into his room would need to be in full sterile attire, including gown, mask and gloves. As doting and protective family members we made sure that this protocol was enforced by all visitors. and staff. One of the young doctors caring for Marty refused to put on the sterile attire, claiming that Marty was so infected and so sick that it really didn’t matter. That enraged us. While we knew that Marty would probably die, we were impassioned to protect him while he was still with us. We explained to the doctor that he would not be allowed to continue to care for Marty if he did not follow the isolation procedures. When we witnessed him once again enter Marty’s room without the proper attire, we had no recourse but to report the doctor to the Chairman of the Medical Department.  Marty died shortly thereafter. 

Doctor-Patient Relationship” - 8:14 minutes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqNKk6Ekipg

“Communicating With Your Doctor” - 2:27 minutes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuGh78X2IQw&feature=related