Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Taking one for the team: a reiteration on the role of self-blame after medical error
  1. Daniel W Tigard
  1. Human Technology Center, Applied Ethics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
  1. Correspondence to Dr Daniel W Tigard, Human Technology Center, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52062, Germany; daniel.tigard{at}rwth-aachen.de

Abstract

In a critique of my work on ‘taking the blame’ as a response to medical errors, my position on the potential goods of individual responsibility and blame is challenged. It is suggested that medicine is a ‘team sport’ and several rich examples are provided to support the possible harms of practitioner self-blame. Yet, it appears that my critics have misunderstood my demands and to whom they are directed. With this response, I offer several clarifications of my account, as well as a reiteration on the role of self-blame after medical error.

  • medical error
  • malpractice
  • ethics
  • moral psychology
  • applied and professional ethics

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes

  • Twitter @dwtigard

  • Contributors I, DWT, am the sole author of this manuscript, by virtue of conducting all relevant research and writing.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent for publication Not required.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.