Doctors asked to admit errors for unique reference book

In a first-of-its-kind conference in the city on reducing medical errors, the Quality Council of India (QCI), on Sunday, launched its Mumbai chapter and asked city doctors to write anonymous letters to them wherein they admit their medical errors. Priya Prabhakaran reports.

In a first-of-its-kind conference in the city on reducing medical errors, the Quality Council of India (QCI), on Sunday, launched its Mumbai chapter and asked city doctors to write anonymous letters to them wherein they admit their medical errors. Their intention: to compile a book of medical errors and help city doctors learn from such errors.

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The convener of the Mumbai Chapter of QCI, PP Gadgil said that the e-mails or letters sent to its Chembur branch would be strictly confidential. They have assured doctors that their name, the name of their patients and the hospital they work at will be changed to ensure that their identities are not disclosed.

“Just because India does not have statistics on medical errors does not mean that they do not occur. We hope to make a reference book for doctors. This is an attempt to reduce medical errors,” said Gadgil. The QCI expects to include at least 100 types of bonafide medical errors in their reference book.

At the conference, doctors also discussed the frequency and causes of medical errors and the measures that can be implemented to prevent them from occurring. They admitted that errors often occur because of the complexity of modern medicine and due to the failure of the healthcare system “We should focus on finding if such errors can be reduced,” said Dr Nikhil Datar, gynaecologist and convener of the conference.