[Clinicians need more support in cases of medical error]

Abstract

A clinician who has been involved in making a medical error can experience a myriad of negative emotional effects. A recent Dutch study in BMJ Open adds compelling evidence that subsequent disciplinary action significantly magnifies the risk for adverse emotional consequences for the clinician. These consequences in turn are likely to have a deleterious effect on subsequent clinician performance and, by extension, a negative influence on patient care. The authors argue, and we strongly agree, that a clinician involved in a disciplinary process should be given support through this process.