An Interesting Article on Medical Errors in Canada
A recent article in the National Post, a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper that focuses primarily on financial issues, discussed at length the extent of error and “adverse events” in the Canadian health care system. The article concludes that the failure to publicly acknowledge errors harms patient safety:
The point of publicizing medical error, patient-safety experts stress, is not to shame or blame, or take away from the fact health care is replete with highly trained, dedicated professionals. Aside from a tiny smattering of true incompetents, no one comes to work expecting to dispense anything but exemplary care, says Rob Robson, a physician who led the Winnipeg health authority’s groundbreaking patient safety program for seven years. (more…)