Disclosure of Error in the Intensive Care Unit

Each year, as many as 98,000 hospital deaths in the United States can be attributed to medical error. Considering that at least half of all medical errors go unreported, the impact they have on mortality, morbidity, prolonged hospital stay, rising hospital costs, and the doctor-patient relationship cannot be overemphasized. At the heart of the dilemma are patients and their family members, who rely on clinicians to provide optimal medical care, devoid of mistakes and error, and want an apology if an error has taken place. In this review, we discuss the moral obligation of hospitals to disclose medical error, no matter what the impact. Whereas in the past, a paternalistic approach to medicine viewed this acknowledgment as weakness, there is now a consensus to advocate for full disclosure, apology, and discussions that facilitate early disclosure of error using teams representing administration, patient care liaisons, and treatment providers. Many institutions now recognize that medical errors are commonly the result of a breakdown of checks and balances, and an increasing number are implementing protocols that target system errors to prevent similar future occurrences. We examine institutions across the United States that take a proactive approach by assembling “communication and resolution” programs to address the concerns of patients and their families through the process of disclosure. We also explore barriers to disclosure, which are attributed to lack of training, fear of litigation, and the “shame and blame culture.” We discuss the benefit, to both patient and provider, of disclosure of accountability as we move toward a culture of strengthening systems and improving patient care and patient-provider relationships. Key words: apology, culture, disclosure, error, resolution