Why admitting to mistakes can help doctors (and patients) | Timothy McDonald | TEDxSanDiego

Preventable harm is a devastating reality for 1 in 10 hospitalized patients, and a wall of silence in today's healthcare culture often prevents caregivers from speaking up and communicating errors when they occur. What if extreme honesty was the norm? Dr. Tim McDonald talks about the transformative power of full transparency in healthcare and how we can use that to break down the wall of silence, create a culture of accountability and healing for patients, families and caregivers after harm in healthcare.
#TEDx #TEDxSpeaker #TEDxSanDiego #honestyinhealthcare #patientsafety #healingafterharm #peersupport #careforthecaregiver #CANDOR #medicalliability #malpractice
A Harvard-trained anesthesiologist, pediatrician, licensed attorney, Patient Safety/Medical Liability Specialist, and author. As Chief Patient Safety and Risk Officer for RLDatix, Tim has taken his passionate for shattering the wall of silence in healthcare and infused it into software to better support organizations who are on their journey to more compassionate honesty intended to help heal patients, families, and affected members of the clinical team after harm in healthcare. Tim has also worked with patients and family members to share their stories with healthcare organizations, to reinforce the importance of this approach.
RLDatix.com.
Reach Tim on IG @rldatix and
LinkedIn / tim-mcdonald-41985a133 This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@audreyjacobs1]

Unbelievable! This is what TEDTalks are for! You’re going to change the world and heal so many broken hearts.

[@АЛЕКС-ч8я3ы]

😅 0:36 0:39

[@harryporter3531]

Honestly has the power to prevent the build up of hate ❤

[@kappatvating]

Medicine has been and will always be a people business. Stories like these emphasize the need to partner with patients and the importance of communicating openly and honestly.

[@foxiebrown516]

Thank you for your advocacy. I just had to type up what I’m currently going through and it made me emotional just to share.

[@mysmirandam.6618]

Admitting mistakes is always helpful

[@vishalrahangdale9268]

Hyy

[@romanmccoy5074]

thats kind of hilarious considering the vast majority of pts are only in the hospital bc of their own mistakes, which they wont own up to and then expect a HCP to magically go away, despite the fact that the majority dont follow the HCPs recommendations or treatment plan.

[@noi000]

Unless you are going to be sued if you admit a mistake.

[@foxiebrown516]

We’re all human❤

[@MeRiaNevaMynd]

Any doctor is going to have to go above and beyond to EVER earn my trust again. After the harm done to me and so many others, doctors better stand up and be accountable!

[@foxiebrown516]

I hear you. I just posted a comment on my experience and I’m feeling exactly the same. I’m sorry you’re going through this. ❤

[@oglow100]

It's hard enough to be a doctor and know that every mistake you ever make will have huge consequences. Especially when you're only trying to help people. People always seem to focus on your mistakes as a doctor and not your successes, which makes me and so many other doctors jaded and cynical.

[@YBAngry]

Tim, you look good man!!! I didn't know there was a Wall of Silence. You forever I'm in the hospital for myself or a loved one oh, I'll be looking out for that. That was a beautiful talk, very informative.

[@KEIN-pj1ws]

Amazing SIR as a human being you pointed out the reality. This concept should be globalized to avoid these kind of worst business of medicines.

[@MrSamuraispirit]

I'm Japanese. I and my families and colleagues have experienced basic misdiagnoses, too. One doctor has diagnosed my father to be a prostate cancer and hurried him to an operation to remove his prostate without biopsy and definitive diagnosis. Doctors are the most irresponsible and privileged job with a huge lifetime income. Medical administrations should be changed.

[@BhartiyaCricketFan]

Are you sure Doctors are the most irresponsible people with high income?

[@stuweintraub]

Thanks Tim for your Brilliant, bold and beautiful message.

[@foxiebrown516]

As one of the patients in San Diego this gentleman is talking about, I become emotional, and could honestly use an advocate right now. I have been in and out of hospitalization since 8/30/23 with Kaiser and after one botched kidney surgery, another to fix the issue, picking up enterococcus while in surgery, being labeled a pain medication seeker when I had to return to the ER as a result of complications, I’ve lost hope in doctors. (Note: try not to go to the ER before a holiday weekend because you’ll be treated like you’re an inconvenience to the staff. ) I’m not sure if it is because I’m a colored woman with tattoos but I was treated horribly, and was spoken to as if I had no education. I hold both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and was spoken to as if I never made it out of 3rd grade. My reported pain levels were changed without my knowledge nor consent, and when I took the time to read my patient record, I found they were using boilerplates for my specific circumstances. They said I was a drinker when I’ve been sober since February, wrote down exams and interactions that never took place, and I found that the doctors were talking to each other and stating I was faking my pain. I finally went to my primary care doctor and let her know what happened. I broke down in her office when she advised me to return to the ER where they botched my care 6 times before. I still took her advice and went, begrudgingly, and my poor husband who has been going through every moment with me is very slow to anger, but this man was almost in tears when he had to recount how terribly I was treated. When I arrived I was put in a hallway (while there were open treatment rooms and people who arrived after me who were more mobile got treatment rooms) and hooked up to an IV with no other monitors and sent home stating that the source of my pain was constipation. I was told by my original surgeon he didn’t believe I had an infection when my urine was cola colored (you better believe I took photos that day after that insult). The next day, I received a call from that same doctor confirming I WAS STILL ACTIVELY PASSING KIDNEY STONES 😢 While it felt good to be vindicated by the test results, I’m still sitting here in pain and nearly bedridden. I considered asking for recourse but it’s just me against the Kaiser system, and we can safely bet on who has more money for representation. If there’s a lawyer out there that will be willing to help me, I BELIEVE I HAVE A CASE. This has taken a toll on not only my physical but my mental health at this point and I’m losing hope. I’m reaching out to the world hoping that someone out there will see this and be able to help me. If I can leave you all with one note: Advocate for your own care, because the healthcare system is not designed to CARE for you. It’s designed to keep you sick enough so you keep coming back to use their services at ridiculously inflated prices. READ your visit notes and remember that it’s your right to ask that the system correct your information if it’s inaccurate. This advice may get you labeled and maybe even blackballed but at least you’ll be doing what will ultimately keep you alive. I’m also very sorry to anyone who has had to go through anything similar. I’m going to this gentleman’s website today to see how I can be part of the change I wish to see. Much love to all of you going through the pain, and also to those of you that are advocating for patients. It’s very heartbreaking to know that with one of the “BEST” healthcare systems in the world, we still have medical errors no one will admit, botched procedures that the patient is ultimately blamed for, and doctors who have God complexes who will never admit they’re just as human as their patients. Be the change you wish to see, or there will be NO CHANGE.

[@aaden5823]

I wish I could help you. But since I can't, I'll offer you a mental hug. I believe you. I understand. Thank you for participating in the "be the change you wish to see" concept. You're clearly a beautiful person, and I hope others around you learn from your experiences and wisdom. Be well, fellow human. *HUGS* 🫂💞🌎

[@foxiebrown516]

@@aaden5823 people like you restore my faith in humanity’s ability to empathize and connect. Thank you so much fellow Star child for this beautiful connection and validating experience. The mental hug and support were exactly what I needed. 🥹❤️‍🩹 Again, my most sincere gratitude goes to you. I hope you’re blessed beyond measure. Namaste 🙏🏽

[@yinordie7192]

my heart aches reading your story. thank you for sharing it and advocating so fiercely for yourself - when you show up for yourself it creates a ripple for everyone around you to do the same. the system needs change! wishing you healing & justice, stay strong ❤️‍🩹

[@TheSoojinjun]

Do you notice that I have the same quote on my profile? ❤

[@Vinayratnu]

I want to help you and willl help you. Always positive and joyful

[@echodelta9336]

amazing approach ❤️

[@MS-ns4ki]

My family went through this w my 5 year old niece and I’m not able to get over it

[@nun-chan9433]

This talk I've felt somewhat different from ordinary person's confession. I suppose It would incubate from the grief/adore/regret/various sentiment of person who has lost his loved one. So it' would be impossible for someone who had never lost something or has nothing to lose to accept/sympathize such mental circumstance. If you would have some loved ones you might have a potential to overcome certain event and do something for other people.

[@JenJayBanks]

Beautiful ❤

[@romanmccoy5074]

Lets also not forget that the majority of patients in the hospital are there as a result of their own mistakes. They wont own up to those mistakes, but they will happily expect a HCP to magically make their problems go away, despite the fact that they often wont follow the recommendations of the HCP. If it werent for alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and obesity, hospitals and clinics would be empty.

[@yinordie7192]

YIKES dude this type of mindset is exactly why patients have lost trust with the healthcare system and not at all what this message is about. you really missed the point

[@foxiebrown516]

Really? My mistake was going to seek treatment. I mean…is that not what hospitals are specifically designed for? Are you saying that because I’m asking for care for something that was either caused by myself or a condition of my environment, I don’t expect to be treated with compassion and dignity? Oof, I hope you stay far away from the medical profession. Hospitals exist because not everyone has the ability to get a medical degree/treat themselves at home. It’s literally their purpose. You’re clearly confused.

[@psychosomatic106]

And when the hospitals are the drug dealers that have ruined your body with enforced drug treatments??

[@OneaeBlack]

Preventable harm, like a prescription pill that is too acidic for any kind of gut benefit, eventually cause chronic build up over years that could actually LEAD to disease or sickness. A needle in the arm will ALWAYS be possible for infection being an opened wound. They used to do x-ray party before they figured out it wasn't such a good idea, a doctor used to recommend their specific tabacco cigarette brand, too bad they want to out plastic filter on newer filter cigarette so the health part is out the window at that point. Anything that our body can't digest very well will sit in our body and rot, killing us from the inside as it becomes a breeding ground with more acidity in the body. Gut health is required for the body to absorb nutrition properly, without it the body will always be in a struggle, this has all be proven by Dr. Sebi in the Supreme Court decades ago, with the healed patients that proved, alkaline balance creates the atmosphere for body health function prosperity. This can also be all researched and proven through found evidence, simple search for a low acidic, alkaline food list, easy stuff. Take care of yourself y'all, love yourself, be well! Believe it, yo, Dr. Sebi had our back even decades ago..

[@jill8573]

2 different hospitals killed both of my parents.

[@foxiebrown516]

I’m so very sorry ❤

[@jill8573]

@@foxiebrown516 thank you 😢

[@foxiebrown516]

Of course. I can’t even imagine the trauma you’ve been through. Sending you big hugs and so much love today. I know it hurts. You’re going to be okay. Your parents love you so much and send you signs. 💗

[@jill8573]

@@foxiebrown516 thank you so much.

[@aaden5823]

Hey, maybe it has something to do with the fact that there's a bunch of rich people who profit off of people being sick? When they make more money because people stay sick, they have no motivation to change. We need a socially funded healthcare system where it doesn't pay to keep people sick. Sincerely, someone who has medical anxiety because of medical neglect/harm.

[@yinordie7192]

THIS 🙏🙌

[@foxiebrown516]

My thoughts exactly

[@Hr60kapil]

Caption on😢

[@nancybrown803]

FIRST DO NO HARM

[@bobmorr2892]

Why admitting to their mistakes can help doctors get their asses sued off.

[@projectalyce]

If I had someone explain to me what was going on and why I ended up having an infection on my head that didn’t heal for like two years, then I would have not felt so wronged. If I had medical professionals be real with me and apologized to me, I wouldn’t have felt so wronged. But, I didn’t get that. What I got instead was people who called themselves medical professionals that gaslit me, lied to me by withholding information or downright changing it, and made me feel like I was at fault, which re-victimized me. So, yeah… I kind of feel like suing now. However, I wouldn’t have felt like suing if they were at all human beings about it. But, they weren’t human beings. Not even close.

[@razvanroman8006]

I honestly doubt this will happen

[@mortezakhozouei]

انقد زبان خوندم اما خیلی از اصطلاحات و کلماتی ک میگه رو متوجّه نمیشم

[@Ninja9JKD]

Post 2020 doctors are lower than used car salesmen, in my book

[@AishwaryaD12]

Duh doctors are narcissists. Narcissists don’t take responsibility.

[@mariiag.8683]

Why would they go in a field where they dedicate their whole life and existence to serving other people and trying to heal them?