PPVE - 2.02


Whistleblowing:

  • reporting of suspected wrong doing with an organisation


Duty of Candour:

  • general duty to tell affected pts about safety incidents asap in person

  • Applies to incidents where patients suffered from unintended harm resulting in death, severe harm or prolonged psychological harm

  • Made up of: full explanation, apology, written record


Challenges to whistleblowing:

  • med students may not due to not knowing who to tell and life being made difficult by person they’re reporting if they find out

  • Med students have high fear of repercussions so high anonymous responses; repercussions like losing current jobs and financial ruins

  • Colleagues cover for each other

  • Medical hierarchy so hinders contributions by jrs to give out info about some snrs malpractice

  • Some drs dont as they think nothing will happen

  • Isolation and being ostracised by colleagues


Legal protection for whistle blowers:

  • Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998

  • Health and social care act - statutory duty of candour

  • Medical school charter - whistleblowing should not have effects on future carer

  • Medical schools council - obliges to maintain confidentiality of student


Raising concerns:

  • GMC says Doctors have a duty to raise concerns where they believe that patient safety/care is being compromised


Guidelines:

  • as medical student not legally registered to GMC and not employees yet so not legally required to raise concerns

  • Moral responsibility to raise concerns amount pt safety

  • Medical school requires u to raise concerns


2015 freedom to speak up report:

  • A report about raising concerns by NHS staff + treatment of those who do

  • Support

  • Training for everyone on how to do so


GMC duties for whistleblowing:

  • must take prompt action if you think safety, dignity or comfort seriously compromised

  • Raise concerns if things are inadequate

  • Act if you think colleague not fit to practice

  • Fears about tuning work rs however, you have a duty, offered legal protection, should be ok legally if act in good faith even if it turns out you are wrong