Table 4 Attitudes of respondents regarding malpractice
From: Malpractice awareness among surgeons at a teaching hospital in Pakistan
| Â | Yes | No |
Will you disclose your error to the patient, if you get to know that your patient has been a target of malpractice? | 216(67.7%) | 103(32.3%) |
Will you disclose your error to the patient, if the error is trivial? | 151(47.3%) | 168(52.7%) |
Will you disclose your error to the patient, if you feel that he won’t be able to understand what you are saying? | 143(44.8%) | 176(55.2%) |
Will you disclose your error to the patient, if there is a threat of assault? | 29(9.1%) | 290(90.9%) |
Will you disclose your error to the patient, if the patient is not interested in knowing about it? | 91(28.5%) | 228(71.5%) |
Will you disclose your error to the patient, if you find that doing so would place your reputation at stake? | 73(22.9%) | 246(77.1%) |
Will you disclose near misses? | 97(30.4%) | 222(69.6%) |
Will you disclose your error to the patient, if you don’t know him very well? | 211(66.1%) | 108(33.9%) |
Will you offer to correct your error, free of charge? | 280(87.8%) | 39(12.2%) |
Will you offer monetary remuneration, if the error is not corrigible? | 118(37.0%) | 201(63.0%) |
Will you continue to practice if you find that your senses are weakening, with the resulting negative impact on your career? | 16(5.0%) | 303(95.0%) |
Are you willing to apologize for your mistake, if need be? | 314(98.4%) | 5(1.6%) |
Do you think malpractice laws need reformation in Pakistan? | 62(19.4%) | 257(80.6%) |