Advice to the Next Generation
Questions from Our Readers, Answers from Physicians
Question
"Some surgeons say that it is only a matter of time before each surgeon, either by mistake or simply by unknown circumstances, has a patient die under his or her knife. Do doctors have some support system for each other? How do they cope with such losses?"
– Serene Chen, Harvard College
Answer
We all make mistakes. This simple fact has less impact your ability to become a physician than the issue of how you will choose to deal with errors, when they occur. One obviously tries to avoid error through training and diligence, but when the inevitable occurs, the measure of a good physician is the ability to have integrity in dealing with the situation. Interestingly, many patients are quite willing to accept the reality of human error on the part of their providers, so long as they feel that they have had a good relationship with that physician – that the physician has been available, communicative, caring, and honest.
In my opinion, the best medical schools and residency training programs are ones in which the reality of medical errors is addressed up front. Having collegues with whom you feel safe enough to share experiences of error is the best way of garnering the support needed to deal with such events; it also creates an environment with a true focus of improving the quality of patient care.
Finally, on a personal note, it has been important for me to realize while I do have an impact on patients' lives, there are forces larger than me, ultimately, that determine outcomes – regardless of both my "triumphs" and errors.
– Jennifer Rodriguez Pippins, Senior Resident, Harvard Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Program