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On this episode
Do you live in fear that you’ll make a mistake at work? When it does happen, do you find it hard to cope and move forwards?
Doctors and other professionals are also human — making mistakes is normal. Knowing this, however, doesn’t take away the stress that comes with going through a complaint or investigation. Since we know that we’re bound to make a mistake at work, what matters is how we respond to them. To maintain our well-being throughout our career, it’s crucial to know how to handle mistakes.
In this episode, Drs Clare Devlin and John Powell join us to discuss the proper way of responding to professional mistakes. We talk about why doctors have a hard time whenever they make a mistake at work. Clare and John also share valuable advice on minimising negative consequences and getting a good outcome for you and your patient.
If you want to learn a roadmap for what you should do you make a mistake at work, then tune in to this episode.
Show links
Sign up for our Permission to Thrive CPD membership!
Get legal, mental, and emotional support if you’re a member of Medical Protection or Dental Protection.
Visit General Medical Council UK’s website for guidance and other medical resources.
Reach out to Clare through Medical Protection
Connect with John: LinkedIn
Reasons to listen
- Learn why many doctors don’t know how to respond when they make a mistake at work.
- Find out how to combat defensiveness and effectively communicate with a patient after a complaint.
- Clare and John share their top tips on what to do when you make a mistake at work.
Episode highlights
What Happens When Doctors Make a Mistake at Work
The Dos and Don’ts
How to Communicate with Your Patient
About Defensiveness
Getting Good Outcomes
The Lack of Education About Handling Mistakes
The Best Time to Seek Support
Top Tips on What to Do When You Make a Mistake at Work
Episode transcript
Dr Rachel Morris: Do you live in fear of a complaint? Do you dread making mistakes or getting something wrong? No one goes to work expecting to fail, and no one ever likes to be wrong or receive a complaint. But making mistakes is normal. After all, no one has a 100% success rate, and receiving complaints from patients and clients could be seen to be an occupational hazard. We know this. So why do we find it so hard to cope when it happens? And it will. That’s why we’ve put together a series of You are Not A…
