Keeping dangerous secrets

Posted July 28th, 2008

"My doctor is nice; every time I see him, I'm ashamed of what I think of doctors in general." Mignon McLaughlin

What happens when one doctor sees another doctor make a significant medical mistake? Although 90 percent of the doctors surveyed at Massachusetts General Hospital said that physicians should always report an impaired or incompetent colleague, more than 45 percent of the doctors admitted they do not always make an error report to the proper authorities.

The same survey revealed that 11% of the respondents had breached doctor-patient confidentiality and 33% claimed they would order an unnecessary MRI just to get rid of a complaining patient.

Over 3,000 doctors received the survey along with a $20 check as an incentive to participate. About half the doctors responded and cashed the check – and 21 of the 1500 doctors didn't answer the survey, but cashed the check anyways.

Information for this article was provided by
William Campbell Douglass, M.D.
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