tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11620656.post112943988211071334..comments2023-08-02T22:57:30.179+08:00Comments on The World As I Know It: We ARE Human After AllUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11620656.post-1129779262646304412005-10-20T11:34:00.000+08:002005-10-20T11:34:00.000+08:00Thanks… I never realized that patient safety agenc...Thanks… I never realized that patient safety agencies existed. Will plough the info in earnest preparation for the day in the bright and very distant future, if ever I make it to CEO. :DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11620656.post-1129600440063820792005-10-18T09:54:00.000+08:002005-10-18T09:54:00.000+08:00Not all systems involve increasing manpower (thoug...Not all systems involve increasing manpower (though obviously, that would be great!). Something as simple as changing the colour of the medication charts from green to red for patients with drug allergies (those red DRUG ALLERGY stickers tend to be overlooked especially by harrased HOs or MOs) would help; with today's technology, the use of electronic prescription would also minimise risk of medication errors.<BR/><BR/>There are entire organisations dedicated to the improvement of patient safety (google search 'patient safety'). You can find out more from their websites...aliendochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16943953235357596536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11620656.post-1129599228126627172005-10-18T09:33:00.000+08:002005-10-18T09:33:00.000+08:00Perhaps you could elaborate on some changes that y...Perhaps you could elaborate on some changes that you propose would help the system?<BR/><BR/>The only change I could think of that would make a significant enough impact to rival that of the ATM machine’s analogy, would be if a senior mentor was put on the “front lines” in the ward with the juniors.<BR/><BR/>But the likelihood of that happening is probably equivalent to my consultant offering to do my changes for me. Not enough drs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11620656.post-1129536347109075982005-10-17T16:05:00.000+08:002005-10-17T16:05:00.000+08:00"Are there errors? Sure. Are many of them avoidabl..."Are there errors? Sure. Are many of them avoidable? Absolutely! Are ALL of them avoidable? ABSOLUTELY NOT."<BR/><BR/>My point exactly. Apologies if it didn't come across clearly enough. We ARE human & like it or not, mistakes happen. Can we avoid these mistakes, yes we can, maybe not all, but with the right systems in place, many of these mistakes are avoidable. It will take time & a lot of effort before we can reach the safety levels of the aviation industry...aliendochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16943953235357596536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11620656.post-1129531773998492762005-10-17T14:49:00.000+08:002005-10-17T14:49:00.000+08:00We are not God (although some may believe & behave...We are not God (although some may believe & behave like they are), and human error is inevitable. It is a fact of life. Misdiagnoses, missed diagnoses, mis-treatment, omissions of treatment all happen. Is it avoidable? Absolutely.<BR/><BR/>The above statement seems contradictory...what is your position? Are we human and therefore errors are "inevitable", or is it "Absolutely" avoidable. Indicating that it is all avoidable promotes the myth of infallibility that starts the finger pointing when LIFE HAPPENS and someone dies or has a bad outcome.<BR/><BR/>Are there errors? Sure. Are many of them avoidable? Absolutely! Are ALL of them avoidable? ABSOLUTELY NOT.<BR/><BR/>EW<BR/>Washington, United States.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11620656.post-1129522401128919092005-10-17T12:13:00.000+08:002005-10-17T12:13:00.000+08:00all the more reason why systems & processes should...all the more reason why systems & processes should be put in place to prevent these errors & alert the doctors before they happen. Doctors do not make mistakes intentionally...but being human, other factors come into play eg. distractions, heavy patient load, sleep deprivation etc etc.aliendochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16943953235357596536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11620656.post-1129517787767389582005-10-17T10:56:00.000+08:002005-10-17T10:56:00.000+08:00Well i have to concur that the threat of lawsuits ...Well i have to concur that the threat of lawsuits filed by someone who wants a settlement is most likely if a doctor would therefore admit his mistake that would have cost a life.<BR/><BR/>But i think negligence would be the most common accusation.<BR/>Ironical that the person who should save lives are put in such a tight spotAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11620656.post-1129516008227455392005-10-17T10:26:00.000+08:002005-10-17T10:26:00.000+08:00and a totally understandable reaction it is - prob...and a totally understandable reaction it is - probably most docs would feel the same way. Do a google on patient safety - you'll find that medical errors do not neccessarily equate to medical negligence. Unfortunately, the current culture is such that there is a fear of reporting such errors. But if you don't know what is wrong, how do you fix it? Hence the never-ending cycle until someone "on top" takes a stand...aliendochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16943953235357596536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11620656.post-1129465757579543072005-10-16T20:29:00.000+08:002005-10-16T20:29:00.000+08:00in my humble opinion, the biggest impedimet to ful...in my humble opinion, the biggest impedimet to full disclosure and acknowledgement of errors is the constant threat of litigation.<BR/><BR/>i don't mind admitting that i was wrong, but if by doing so i risk losing everything i own PLUS my license to practise, then i'm certainly going to be thinking more than twice before i do so.<BR/><BR/>much much more than just twice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com