The Perception and Preference of Patients towards Disclosure of Medical Errors: A Report from Guilan Academic Hospitals

Elahe Abdollahi; Soheil Soltanipour; Abbas Sedighinejad; Mohammad Haghighi; Morteza Rahbar Taramsari; Gelareh Biazar; Yasin Farahbakhsh

doi:10.18502/jimc.v7i3.15720

Elahe Abdollahi Kavosh Cognitive Behavior Sciences and Addiction Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Soheil Soltanipour Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Abbas Sedighinejad Anesthesiology Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Alzahra Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Mohammad Haghighi Anesthesiology Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Alzahra Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Morteza Rahbar Taramsari Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Gelareh Biazar Anesthesiology Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Alzahra Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Yasin Farahbakhsh Student of Medicine, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v7i3.15720

Keywords: Medical errors, Physicians, Research report

Abstract

Background: It is well known that disclosure of Medical Errors (MEs) is the duty of physicians and it is the right of patients to be aware of any error occurring in their medical care process. This study was planned to asses to what extent the patients expect to be informed of the occurrence of MEs, they prefer who reports the medical error to them, and what are the influential factors in taking legal action against physicians in disclosed MEs from their point of view.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, eligible patients admitted to academic hospitals of Guilan (Poorsina; Razi; Alzahra; Amir Al-Momenin; Dr. Heshmat), were interviewed directly and a questionnaire which was divided into four sections was filled out. The first part was about socio-demographic data of the responders and the next three sections included their preferences towards the type of MEs to be disclosed, who is responsible for this task, and in which conditions they sue against the medical team.

Results: About 96.6% of the patients believed that MEs had to be disclosed to the patients. Moreover, 29.3% preferred to be informed about all MEs that occurred during their medical care even if it caused no harm. 51.1% expected that physician who committed the error informs the error. On the whole age, gender, employment status, residency and education were among the influential factors of the patients’ willingness and point of view and filing a lawsuit against physicians.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that all minor and major MEs should be disclosed sympathetically by the physician who committed the error.