"Moral Courage Story"
Original Story Written by: (annonymous)
Summarized & Analyzed by: Akhrin Sachdev [15/12/2002]
While some hospitals in the United States appear to be taking serious steps to deal ethically with harm-causing error, it seems fair to say that most would respond to a policy of �extreme honesty� with considerable reluctance. In order to realize such a policy, it seems that a significant change in the core beliefs of hospital supervisors and institutional representatives must occur that at least includes the understanding of error as systemic; the notion that liability costs might not be significantly increased�indeed, might even be reduced�by disclosure; the realization that serious error will occur in medicine and that blaming involved parties is not a constructive response; and an effort to make medical training less punitive and more humane.
Because of the moral courage it requires, the act of disclosing harm-causing error is, at bottom, an enormously caring and even loving act. Unless the harm-causing parties themselves feel protected and loved, however, it will be harder for them to act lovingly and caringly for others and to find the courage they need when heart wrenching conversations are morally warranted.