New patient safety handbook from Oxford University Press
The new Oxford University Press handbook on patient safety features a chapter co-authored by AXA Health Deputy Chief Medical Officer Pallavi Bradshaw.
The chapter, ‘Open Disclosure’ describes the barriers, importance and ethical imperative of honest, timely and empathic communication after an adverse outcome. It offers clinicians an ethical framework to undertake these discussions with patients and their families at what can be an emotional and difficult time for all involved. It can assist clinicians to meet their professional and legal obligations of duty of candour.
The handbook, published last month, explains patient safety theory for clinicians and provides practical approaches to improve care.
Dr Bradshaw read medicine at the University of Cambridge, specialised in ophthalmology and worked in the medicolegal field before joining AXA Health.
She was invited to contribute to the book given her extensive experience in advising and supporting doctors and her knowledge of the duty of candour in different legal jurisdictions as a Medicolegal Consultant and Risk Prevention Lead. She has presented and written internationally on open disclosure and patient safety and has provided input into government and regulator consultations across the globe on the issue of candour and healthcare culture.
