Developing a consensus statement

Dr Emma M Kennedy, BMBS(Flin); FRACGP

Medical Educator NTGPE Ltd
Senior Lecturer General Practice
Northern Territory Clinical School Flinders University
General Practitioner, Malak Square Medical Centre, Malak, NT
Bagot Community Clinic, Darwin NT

Dr Sam R Heard, MBBS(Adel); FRACGP

Chair National Standing Committee - Education RACGP
General Practitioner, Malak Square Medical Centre, Malak, NT

Objectives: Develop a reference statement for the appropriate management of mistakes in the General Practice training environment.

Setting: Focus groups held during workshops with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Training Program in the Northern Territory (NT).

Participants: NT supervisors and registrars, and representatives of the Consumer Reference Group Top End Division of General Practice.

Results: A reference statement and mutually agreed list of duties for registrars, their supervisors and patients.

Conclusion: Mistakes are a part of the practice of medicine and can impact widely. An appropriate response, and the opportunity to reflect and learn from the experience are important elements in minimising the adverse impact. We recommend that the issue of mistakes be considered a priority in the teaching of medicine.

Reference: Australian Family Physician Vol. 30, No. 3, March 2001 pages 295-299

Further information relating to this research area is currently under investigation and will be made available in due course.