Medical Malpractice: Mistakes Happen, Doctor Says
Everyone makes mistakes. Even doctors. But you rarely hear a doctor admit she made a mistake. In my years representing Kentucky medical malpractice victims, I have never once heard a doctor admit their error caused a patient harm. In his new book, Dr. Atul Gawande says just that. Gawande, a surgeon whose bestselling book inspired the hit TV series Grey's Anatomy, takes a refreshingly candid look at the medical profession and the havoc medical errors can cause.
Here, he discusses a surgical error:
Six months ago, I was performing a thyroid operation on a teacher my age and damaged a nerve that led to her vocal cords. This woman can no longer talk and has had to give up work. The only way I can live with myself is to try to do all I can for her and understand what I did wrong and do better next time. Being sorry is not enough.
The Guardian has an interesting article on Gawande and the book. An interesting read.
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