401428

Medical Error Disclosure: Medicolegal and Ethical Concerns among Cardiologists

Article

Last updated: 13 Jan 2025

Subjects

-

Tags

Forensic medicine and pathology

Abstract

Background: Medical errors (MEs) represent deviations from established standards of care, potentially resulting in patient harm. ME disclosure is an ethical and legal obligation that preserves patient rights and dignity. However, cardiologists frequently encounter distinct challenges in this context. Aim of the study: The study aimed to improve the quality of care and establish a safer healthcare environment, ultimately resulting in improved patient health outcomes. Participants and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study involved 70 Egyptian cardiologists through a self-administered online questionnaire. This questionnaire assessed demographic and professional characteristics, self-reported experiences regarding MEs and their disclosure, as well as knowledge and attitudes related to the factors affecting the decision to disclose MEs. Results: The sample comprised 80% males, with a mean age of 34.9 years. Only 37.1% of participants received educational or training programs on MEs disclosure. Approximately 67% reported having committed MEs. Among them, 72.3% communicated the medical error to the patient, 51.1% reported it to the institution, and 53.2% faced malpractice claims. Approximately 67% of the participating cardiologists exhibited either no or poor overall knowledge. Approximately 91% of participants exhibited a neutral attitude regarding ME disclosure. A majority of participants (75.7%) indicated a willingness to disclose medical errors in contexts involving potential malpractice lawsuits. Over half of the participants (52.8%) indicated that the Egyptian Law regarding medicolegal liability would likely influence their decision to disclose MEs, either very likely or likely. Conclusion and recommendation: Although the participating cardiologists exhibited favorable practices regarding ME disclosure and reporting, the majority demonstrated limited knowledge and maintained a neutral attitude toward ME disclosure. This study highlighted concerns regarding legal consequences, inadequate training, and the absence of supportive forums or policies for reporting MEs to institutions. Improving educational initiatives and supportive reporting systems may improve ME.

DOI

10.21608/zjfm.2024.323161.1201

Keywords

Medical errors (MEs), Cardiologists, MEs disclosure, Medicolegal liability

Authors

First Name

Khadiga M.

Last Name

abdelrahman

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt.

Email

khadija_rahman@med.suez.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Abeer M.

Last Name

Hagras

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt.

Email

abeerhagras@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Shaimaa A.

Last Name

Shehata

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt.

Email

shaimaa_shehata@med.suez.edu.eg

City

Ismailia

Orcid

0000-0002-2810-3613

First Name

Fathy A.

Last Name

Nada

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Cardiovascular Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt

Email

fathynada45@hotmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Hebatalla M.

Last Name

Aly

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of public health, community, occupational and environmental medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt.

Email

hebatalla-mohamed@med.suez.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Enas M. A.

Last Name

Mostafa

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt.

Email

enas_mostafa@med.suez.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

-

Volume

23

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

52533

Issue Date

2025-01-01

Receive Date

2024-09-23

Publish Date

2025-01-01

Page Start

19

Page End

32

Print ISSN

1687-160X

Online ISSN

2536-9849

Link

https://zjfm.journals.ekb.eg/article_401428.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=401428

Order

14

Type

Original Article

Type Code

402

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Zagazig Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Publication Link

https://zjfm.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Medical Error Disclosure: Medicolegal and Ethical Concerns among Cardiologists

Details

Type

Article

Created At

13 Jan 2025