Transparent and open discussion of errors does not increase malpractice risk in trauma patients.

Annals of Surgery
Ronald M StewartStephen M Cohn

Abstract

We set out to determine if there is an increased medical malpractice lawsuit rate when trauma patient cases are presented at an open, multidisciplinary morbidity and mortality conference (M&M). Patient safety proponents emphasize the importance of transparency with respect to medical errors. In contrast, the tort system focuses on blame and punishment, which encourages secrecy. Our question: Can the goals of the patient safety movement be met without placing care providers and healthcare institutions at unacceptably high malpractice risk? The trauma registry, a risk management database, along with the written minutes of the trauma morbidity and mortality conference (M&M) were used to determine the number and incidence of malpractice suits filed following full discussion at an open M&M conference at an academic level I trauma center. A total of 20,749 trauma patients were admitted. A total of 412 patients were discussed at M&M conference and a total of seven lawsuits were filed. Six of the patients were not discussed at M&M prior to the lawsuit being filed. One patient was discussed at M&M prior to the lawsuit being filed. The incidence of lawsuit was calculated in three groups: all trauma patients, all trauma patients with comp...Continue Reading

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May 25, 2005·Annals of Surgery·Ronald M StewartStephen M Cohn
Sep 2, 2005·Annals of Surgery·Hiram C Polk

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Citations

Mar 12, 2008·The Journal of Trauma·Gerald McGwinLoring W Rue
Jul 26, 2013·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·Bruce J Barron, John Banja
Nov 26, 2013·World Journal of Surgery·Tapio HakalaHannu Paajanen
Jul 14, 2010·Radiographics : a Review Publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc·Olga R BrookJonathan B Kruskal
Sep 28, 2007·World Journal of Surgery·Kjetil SøreideHans Morten Lossius
Apr 6, 2011·Journal of the American College of Surgeons·Ronald M StewartBasil A Pruitt
Jul 1, 2016·BMJ Quality & Safety·Edmund S H KwokJason R Frank
Apr 30, 2019·The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery·Leopoldo C Cancio, Todd E Rasmussen
Jun 28, 2019·The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery·Leopoldo C Cancio, Todd E Rasmussen

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