The IOM report “To Err is Human”
Read the required articles on health care workers’ legal liability for medical mistakes: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2155825615303653;
AND,
the IOM report “To Err is Human” chapter 8 on recommendations to reduce medical errors.
Analyze current events in legal liability for medical mistakes, either in nursing or another healthcare profession, and compare an example of legal liability with the IOM recommendations.
Sample Answer
Example of legal liability
In 2023, a nurse in Texas was sued for medical malpractice after she accidentally administered the wrong medication to a patient. The patient died as a result of the mistake. The nurse was subsequently convicted of criminal negligence and sentenced to two years in prison.
Comparison of the example with the IOM recommendations
The IOM report “To Err is Human” chapter 8 on recommendations to reduce medical errors includes a number of recommendations that could have helped to prevent the medical mistake in the example above. These recommendations include:
- Improving communication and coordination among healthcare professionals.
- Developing and implementing systems and processes to reduce errors.
- Creating a culture of safety in healthcare organizations.