Abstract
BackgroundThe Italian code of medical deontology recently approved stipulates that physicians have the duty to inform the patient of each unwanted event and its causes, and to identify, report and evaluate adverse events and errors. Thus the obligation to supply information continues to widen, in some way extending beyond the doctor-patient relationship to become an essential tool for improving the quality of professional services.DiscussionThe new deontological precepts intersect two areas in which the figure of the physician is paramount. On the one hand is the need for maximum integrity towards the patient, in the name of the doctor’s own, and the other’s (the patient’s) dignity and liberty; on the other is the physician’s developing role in the strategies of the health system to achieve efficacy, quality, reliability and efficiency, to reduce errors and adverse events and to manage clinical risk.SummaryIn Italy, due to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and to the new code of medical deontology, the role of physicians becomes a part of a complex strategy of risk management based on a system focused approach in which increasing transparency regarding adverse outcomes and full disclosure of health- related negative events represent a key factor.
Highlights
The Italian code of medical deontology recently approved stipulates that physicians have the duty to inform the patient of each unwanted event and its causes, and to identify, report and evaluate adverse events and errors
Summary: In Italy, due to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and to the new code of medical deontology, the role of physicians becomes a part of a complex strategy of risk management based on a system focused approach in which increasing transparency regarding adverse outcomes and full disclosure of health- related negative events represent a key factor
The obligation to supply information and to communicate continues to widen, in some way extending beyond the doctorpatient relationship to become an essential tool for improving the quality of professional services
Summary
Italian codes of medical ethics Successive deontological codes in Italy from the 1970’s until today reflect profound changes in the doctor-patient. The code calls for ‘honest and correct’ information and for communication of error and adverse event as a tool for controlling quality and managing clinical risk These are new additions which help to develop a more open attitude with regard to information for the patient. The concept of honest and correct communication is closely linked to that of the disclosure of adverse events and errors [9] The latter, extends beyond truthfulness in the two -way physician-patient relationship and widens the scope of the deontological code to include the issues of patient safety and clinical risk management, in which the physician plays a role of primary importance.
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