Should Healthcare Professionals Be Allowed to Make Mistakes?
The issue of whether healthcare professionals should be allowed to make mistakes is a complex and ethically challenging question, especially in the context of high rates of malpractice suits. In the case presented, where a patient’s death was attributed to a missed diagnosis of giardiasis, the implications of failing to pursue further testing go beyond a simple mistake. From the perspectives of the risk manager and the patient’s spouse, different considerations come into play regarding accountability, patient safety, and legal implications.
Risk Manager’s Perspective
From the risk manager’s viewpoint, the failure to diagnose the giardiasis infection raises concerns about medical errors, patient safety, and liability. In healthcare settings, risk managers are tasked with identifying potential risks, implementing preventive measures, and addressing adverse events to mitigate harm to patients and reduce legal exposure for the institution. In this case, the oversight in not pursuing further testing to detect an uncommon but treatable condition could be deemed a deviation from the standard of care, leading to increased vulnerability to malpractice claims and financial consequences for the hospital (Carroll & McGraw, 2019).
Patient’s Spouse Perspective
For the patient’s spouse, who lost their loved one due to a missed diagnosis, the emotional and psychological impact of the healthcare professional’s error is profound. From their perspective, the failure to accurately diagnose and treat the giardiasis infection resulted in a preventable tragedy that could have been averted with timely intervention. The subsequent lawsuit and monetary compensation awarded by the jury reflect not only the financial repercussions but also the quest for accountability, justice, and closure in the face of medical negligence (Sage & Kachalia, 2018).
Conclusion
In conclusion, while healthcare professionals are not infallible and may make mistakes due to various factors such as diagnostic challenges or system failures, the consequences of errors can have far-reaching effects on patients’ lives and well-being. In cases like the one presented, where a missed diagnosis led to a patient’s death, the ethical and legal implications underscore the imperative for continuous learning, quality improvement initiatives, and a culture of open communication and transparency in healthcare organizations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
References
– Carroll, A. E., & McGraw, S. A. (2019). Medical error disclosure: Can we get beyond rhetoric? AMA Journal of Ethics, 21(3), E237-242.
– Sage, W. M., & Kachalia, A. (2018). Disclosure of medical error. JAMA, 320(12), 1243-1244.
