It's important to say you're sorry: healthcare's "shame and blame" culture deemphasizes apologies, but they are important for improving patient care and avoiding liability.(ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT)(Report)

Admitting a mistake, whether personal or professional, is difficult. The "blame and shame" environment that has long existed in healthcare frequently makes caregivers fearful of admitting errors. Mistakes can occur in many common processes in behavioral and physical healthcare, especially in 24-hour settings, but identifying a mistake in behavioral healthcare services often can be more complicated than in physical healthcare settings. Yet regardless of the setting, silence about mistakes means that lessons learned by an individual are not shared with others who could benefit. In addition, the individual served and his/her family may never have the closure that can come from being informed that they have been the victim of a mistake.

Fortunately, the tradition of silence is changing. More and more healthcare organizations are looking to shift to a more open and honest way of dealing with a problem that has long been pushed underground due to fears of professional castigation and costly litigation. Disclosing mistakes and offering apologies are ethical responsibilities supported by various professional, regulatory, and accrediting organizations, including …