After Harm: Medical Error and the Ethics of Forgiveness

by Nancy Berlinger

Medical error is a leading problem of health care in the United States. Each year, more patients die as a result of medical mistakes than are killed by motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS. While most government and regulatory efforts are directed toward reducing and preventing errors, the actions that should follow the injury or death of a patient are still hotly debated. According to Nancy Berlinger, conversations on patient safety are missing several important religious voices, traditions, and models. In After Harm, Berlinger draws on sources in theology, ethics, religion, and culture to create a practical and comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of patients, families, and clinicians affected by medical error. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging fallibility, telling the truth, confronting feelings of guilt and shame, and providing just compensation. After Harm adds important human dimensions to an issue that has profound consequences for patients and health care providers.

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Cyndie Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on the ethics of disclosing medical errors, mistakes, and side effects and making restitution to those harmed.

Describes how the first hospital systems who focused more on apologizing and making things right were those who believed it was the right thing to do, before it was clear that it was also better business.

Explores the healing power of the process of discovery, explanation, and (hopefully) forgiveness helps heal the victims as well as those that made the mistakes.