Principles of medical ethics: implications for the disclosure of medical errors

inciples of medical ethics: implications for the disclosure of medical errors Perspectives (1411) Total Article Views Authors: Hannawa AF Published Date July 2012 Volume 2012:2 Pages 1 - 11 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/MB.S25040 Received: 06 June 2012 Accepted: 29 June 2012 Published: 27 July 2012 Annegret F Hannawa Institute of Communication and Health, Faculty of Communication Sciences, University of Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland Abstract: This review merges interdisciplinary perspectives from communication, law, and medical ethics to advance theoretically framed standards for error disclosure. The standards reflect ethical conduct in respect to providers’ decisions to disclose and their performance of error disclosures. Furthermore, the review operationalizes a list of communicative elements that implement these standards in light of communication competence theory. This work is among the first attempts to justify ethically the disclosure of error-induced adverse events and close calls, facilitating a significant contribution to medical ethics research and practice.