One of the questions I am asked frequently is about the best way to find the right doctor for a second opinion. That question — and its answer — have become among the most important answers I’ve ever provided, ever since the proof of my answer was provided in the results of a study last […]
Doctors Protect Colleagues at Patient Expense Read More »
As promised in yesterday’s post, I’m reporting today on a frustration among those of us who work in patient safety. That frustration is once again sparked in this report from the Hartford Courant. Fifteen year old Mark Tsvok, injured in an auto accident in 2004, died from his injuries as a result of the misdeeds
When Dirty Doctors Can’t Be Identified Read More »
I’ve talked before about blamers and fixers. Here’s a way of looking at that concept that may make you a wiser patient. One of the big questions about medical mistakes is whether practitioners should own up to them. Until recently, doctors were highly discouraged from admitting any kinds of problems had taken place, whether it
How Apologies Lead to Fixing Read More »
Last week, Newsweek’s My Turn featured an essay by Dr. Richard Karl. Newsweek called it “Good Doctors Spot Mistakes, Save Lives”… a lousy headline for a well-meaning essay, even if the essay needs a postscript. (I’ve provided that postscript below.) Dr. Karl, a surgeon, describes the frustration of trying to track down a sponge which
Newsweek’s My Turn: What About the Patient? Read More »
