J Korean Med Assoc.  2025 Feb;68(2):140-145. 10.5124/jkma.2025.68.2.140.

Efforts toward solving the problem of medical errors

• Yon J
• Kang BJ

• KMID: 2565517
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2025.68.2.140

Abstract

Background
Medical errors occur around 5% of admissions, sometimes resulting in serious outcomes. They tend to provoke lawsuits against healthcare workers, causing much concern. Nowadays in Korea, the number of lawsuits is increasing considerably, thus enhancing the need of solutions for this problem.
Current Concepts
The present responses of healthcare workers in medical errors are denial. Patients become dissatisfied more against such attitude, increasing possibility of lawsuits. Therefore we need to adopt new strategies for solving this problem, which fortunately have been developed and applied over many countries.
Discussion and Conclusion
The harmful results from medical errors can’t be presumed intentional. Further, error-prone culture of workplace act together in raising the events. So, the recent increasing trend of mindless legal judgements based upon considering the consequences of the events seem to be unreasonable. Safety culture being developed and established in many countries intends to prevent diverse adverse events and make trustworthy healthcare system. The major components of safety culture are (1) Frank disclosure of errors to meet the wishes of patients which corresponds to ethical responsibility regarding delegated medical work; (2) Just culture giving fair considerations to medical personnel regarding the errors; (3) Safety culture at the organizational level including incident reporting system which can only be worked well through the atmosphere of open communication and adherence to practice standards. However in Korea, considering realistic situations of patients having much distrust against medical personnel and thus easily making civil and criminal lawsuits, it would be more reasonable to put disproportionate legal lawsuits in order.

Keyword

Medical errors; Medicolegal; Just culture; Patient safety; 의료오류; 법의학; 공정문화; 환자안전