What to do if things go wrong: a guide for junior doctors

This National Patient Safety Agency's booklet is a guide for junior doctors to manage a patient safety incident.

It is organized in 6 sections.

First, a description of a personal experience of having a medical incident. Second, to document the incident in the patient’s medical records and to inform consultant and/or supervisor. Third, to communicate the incident to the patient, family and caregivers and apologise to all. Fourth, to report the incident in a local reporting system. Fifth, the guide enhance that junior doctors, on the frontline of care, are vital in the identification of learning from reporting. Finally, an algorithm is presented to deal with the complaints process in England.

Every section is introduced by an incident description from a relevant medical doctor in England.

It is easy to read and a good example to adapt in every country as a guide to promote good answers to incidents in practice for junior doctors.

Medical error. What to do if things go wrong: a guide for junior doctors


Posted by Pilar Astier
English version by Pilar Astier