American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Update: Disclosure of Adverse Events

The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated a policy statement, “Disclosure of Adverse Events in Pediatrics,” that offers recommendations on the routine disclosure of medical errors or care that caused harm to patients. The statement, published in the April issue of Pediatrics and online March 17, discusses legal and ethical questions and encourages institutions to develop a culture of safety and reduce fear of disclosure to patients and families. This can be done in an honest and empathetic manner as part of a nonpunitive safety culture, according to AAP, which recognizes progress made over the past few decades on disclosing adverse events. Estimates of adverse events vary widely, are likely undercounted, and depend on the healthcare setting and patient population. While most research to date has focused on errors in inpatient or emergency department settings, the majority of pediatric care occurs in outpatient settings. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has called attention to the importance of pediatric patient safety since 2001. The policy update was written by the AAP Committee on Medical Liability and Risk Management, and AAP Council on Quality Improvement and Patient Safety. Policy statements created by AAP are written by medical experts, reflect the latest evidence in the field, and go through several rounds of peer review before being approved by the AAP Board of Directors and published in Pediatrics.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.