UNSPECIFIED (2001) Medical error: a discussion of the medical construction of error and suggestions for reforms of medical education to decrease error. MEDICAL EDUCATION, 35 (9). pp. 855-861. ISSN 0308-0110

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Introduction There is a growing public perception that serious medical error is commonplace and largely tolerated by the medical profession. The Government and medical establishment's response to this perceived epidemic of error has included tighter controls over practising doctors and individual stick-and-carrot reforms of medical practice. Discussion This paper critically reviews the literature on medical error, professional socialization and medical student education, and suggests that common themes such as uncertainty, necessary fallibility, exclusivity of professional judgement and extensive use of medical networks find their genesis, in part, in aspects of medical education and socialization into medicine. The nature and comparative failure of recent reforms of medical practice and the tension between the individualistic nature of the reforms and the collegiate nature of the medical profession are discussed. Conclusion A more theoretically informed and longitudinal approach to decreasing medical error might be to address the genesis of medical thinking about error through reforms to the aspects of medical education and professional socialization that help to create and perpetuate the existence of avoidable error, and reinforce medical collusion concerning error. Further changes in the curriculum to emphasize team working, communication skills, evidence-based practice and strategies for managing uncertainty are therefore potentially key components in helping tomorrow's doctors to discuss, cope with and commit fewer medical errors.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	L Education > LB Theory and practice of education H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Journal or Publication Title:	MEDICAL EDUCATION
Publisher:	BLACKWELL SCIENCE LTD
ISSN:	0308-0110
Date:	September 2001
Volume:	35
Number:	9
Number of Pages:	7
Page Range:	pp. 855-861
Publication Status:	Published
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/11794

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

Request changes to a record

Actions (login required)

View Item