Medical error’ remains one of the most significant public safety issues
Medical error’ remains one of the most significant public safety issues. Evidence indicates that for all its technical prowess the American healthcare system generates an incidence of preventable harm and mortality that would not be tolerated within any other for-profit industry. Reporting adverse events and near misses is an important nursing function and a legal duty. We owe this duty to our patient and our employer. Failure to report an adverse event or near miss; which could be foreseen to be material to the care and safety of a patient, is a breach of duty that can give rise to a claim of negligence. The Nurse Practice Act (or similar titled law) in each state contains the laws to which each nurse must lawfully abide.
