The Professional Duty of Candour
Remember - every healthcare professional must be open
and honest with patients when something that goes wrong with their
treatment or care causes, or has the potential to cause, harm or
distress. This means that healthcare professionals must:
• tell the patient (or, where appropriate, the patient's advocate, carer or
family) when something has gone wrong
• apologise to the patient (or, where appropriate, the patient's advocate,
carer or family)
• offer an appropriate remedy or support to put matters right (if possible)
• explain fully to the patient (or, where appropriate, the patient's advocate,
carer or family) the short and long term effects of what has happened.
Healthcare professionals must also be open and honest with their
colleagues, employers and relevant organisations, and take part in
reviews and investigations when requested. They must also be open and
honest with their regulators, raising concerns where appropriate. They must
support and encourage each other to be open and honest, and not stop
someone from raising concerns.