Adverse individual outcomes of healthcare

Abstract

The editor looks at various reasons for adverse outcomes of healthcare, including medical mishap, high-risk treatment or procedures, health system failure or inadequacy, and medical malpractice. Honest disclosure and open communication will help the patient and family deal with their natural reactions of shock, sadness and disappointment rather than projecting them into culprit seeking and a desire for punishment and revenge, while professional review and regulatory mechanisms should ensure that any professional or healthcare system culpability is identified and dealt with.