Medical errors

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1174-a

BMJ 2003;327:1174 (15 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1174-a

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Medical errors

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

It wasn't that long ago that many people regarded doctors' opinionsand actions as near miracles. Nowadays, however, the doctor-patientinteraction is more of a deal, where terms must be respected.If a provider does not offer the best quality products, theclients know full well how to safeguard their rights. Hammurabi'srules are back, and if doctors make mistakes in treating theirpatients they must pay—and the price might be their liberty,as an editorial in this week's BMJ discusses (p 1118).

Perhaps reflecting society's changing attitudes to medical mistakes,there are several websites available that seek to support patientswho have been on the receiving end. These include Medical Accidents(www.medical-accident.co.uk), a patient-led group, applying"business-accepted processes, standards and solutions to medicalconcerns." Visitors can fill in a complaint form, or learn howto go about engaging specialist solicitors.

Action for Victims of Medical . . . [Full text of this article]

Ioana Vlad, Clegg scholar

BMJ ivlad@bmj.com