By Bill Gompers

During the last few years many studies have revealed an increasing incidence of clinical errors in hospitals as well as office-based medical practices. Previously, it was common practice not to reveal such occurrences.  Considering today’s desire for transparency and established laws, rules, regulations and guidelines, it is widely accepted that patients should be informed when errors occur.  Thus, the decision for the physician to make today is not whether to disclose a clinical mistake, unexpected outcome or other out-of-the-ordinary event, but how to share the information.

With the myriad of laws*, rules, regulations and guidelines promulgated regarding the reporting of adverse patient incidents, what are physicians to do when they face this situation?

With this in mind, it is imperative for all physicians to develop, in consultation with their advisors – including attorney(s), risk managers, malpractice carrier and broker – a “game plan” to put into motion when the situation requiring patient notification presents.  There are generally three (3) guiding principles at the center of these plans, all of which are designed to encourage transparency for medical errors with fair, upfront and early compensation. These principles are:

• Compensate quickly and fairly when inappropriate medical care causes injury
• Defend medically appropriate care vigorously
• Reduce patient injuries (and therefore claims) by learning from mistakes.

Components of the plans usually include the following immediately following the event:

• Informing the patient and family of the event
• Expression of regret (I’m sorry)
• Explanation of steps being taken minimize further harm
• Notification of your insurance company, risk management staff and attorney
• Description of what happens next
• Commitment to investigate and find out why the adverse event occurred

Followed up by:

• Disclosing the results of the internal investigation
• Apologizing if there is an error or systems failure
• Description of changes being implemented to prevent the failure from recurring

With a well-thought-out plan involving input and guidance from trusted advisors, physicians can be prepared to met the legal and ethical requirements resulting from adverse incidents while maximizing desired outcomes and minimizing unwanted outcomes of saying I’m Sorry.

*According to Florida Statutes XXXII 456.0575  Duty to notify patients.—Every licensed health care practitioner shall inform each patient, or an individual identified pursuant to s. 765.401(1), in person about adverse incidents that result in serious harm to the patient. Notification of outcomes of care that result in harm to the patient under this section shall not constitute an acknowledgment of admission of liability, nor can such notifications be introduced as evidence.  In addition XXIX 0395.1051 and JACHO require each licensed facility to make a similar notification.  Also Florida Statutes VII 90.4026, Statements expressing sympathy provides that, The portion of statements, writings, or benevolent gestures expressing sympathy or a general sense of benevolence relating to the pain, suffering, or death of a person involved in an accident and made to that person or to the family of that person shall be inadmissible as evidence in a civil action. A statement of fault, however, which is part of, or in addition to, any of the above shall be admissible pursuant to this section. The American Medical Association (AMA) policy pertaining to how physicians should respond when a patient has an unanticipated outcome includes that the physician is ethically required to inform the patient of all the facts necessary to ensure an understanding of what occurred.

Bill Gompers is a medical malpractice insurance specialist with Danna-Gracey, a boutique insurance agency specializing in medical malpractice and workers compensation for Florida’s medical community., 305.775.1960; bill@dannagracey.com.