ISMP: Criminal prosecution of human error: Dangerous consequences

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

institute for safe medication practices

attached you will find the march 2007 issue of nurse advise-err®, a peer-reviewed newsletter published by the institute for safe medication practices (ismp).

in this month's issue:

--- criminal prosecution of human error: dangerous consequences

www.ismp.org/newsletters/nursing/issues/nurseadviseerr200703.pdf

safety experts and the criminal justice

system seem to be at odds regarding

the proper course of action to take

when a fatal error occurs. safety

experts advocate for a more just path

for individuals involved in adverse

events, arguing that punishment simply

because the patient was harmed

does not serve the publics' interest.

its deterrent effects on learning

far outweigh its negligible

impact on improving individual

performance.

even some professional associations

and licensing boards have taken

exception to the criminal prosecution

of human error,3 citing that, if

warranted, the licensing boards can

adequately protect patients from reckless

or incompetent healthcare practitioners

by limiting or revoking their

licenses. safety experts and many

licensing boards agree that the criminal

system need only be invoked in rare

cases of purposeful harm, such as a

healthcare professional who molests a

vulnerable patient, for individuals like

this would pose a threat to both

patients and society as a whole.

[pickledpepperRN]

Thank you, Karen.

This is so very important.

I've had the wrong medication in the Pyxis, typed on the computer generated MAR, and the bar code on the tablet matched the patients ID band. BUT the patient knew it was not her medication.

Thank goodness I believed the patient and took the time to communicate with pharmany and the ordering physician.

I have made errors, usually a late or missed med almost once a year.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

Its not if human error is going to happen its when.......