A duty of candour imposed from above is not enough

Abstract

A duty of candour applies when things have already gone wrong. This is intended to reduce further distress by preventing institutions and their employees trying to conceal their errors. The story of Robbie Powell’s death at the age of 10 years provides a harrowing example of how the devastating distress from the death of a child can be compounded and prolonged for all concerned by a lack of candour. However, by far the greatest tragedy was that a child died due to a breakdown in communication.