I have been following the news about the unfortunate errors made in our hospitals that have very seriously affected the people who were wronged as well as the doctors involved and don't understand the hysteria.
It appears that out of thousands of cases over many years, a leading professional has made a very small number of errors. Yes - they are serious, and perhaps they might have been prevented. The victims of these errors are paying a high price but I am sure the doctors and medical community are as well. And what about the current patients desperately in need of the medical services now being curtailed while an investigation takes place? How much damage will that do? Delayed surgeries could negatively affect more people than the errors did.
Every human being makes mistakes. If they were honest errors and there is no pattern of repetition suggesting incompetence they have to get past these errors and move forward. I feel for the patients who suffered unnecessary surgery and the psychological fall out that goes along with it. But I also feel for those on the waiting list, who are being denied access to needed treatment and are willing to go ahead with the same excellent doctor being kept out of the hospital.
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" should apply in this situation.
by Richard Rosenthal
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Just to clarify - I have never suggested lowering the bar or settling for less than the best. My point was that we have to look at the totality of a situation and be realistic about our expectations. I really don't know all the "horror stories" referred to and I am aware that there have been other problems. The answer is not to shut down the services to people on waiting lists that are already long. The answer is not to take down a doctor for a human error who has performed thousands of successful surgeries and helped countless patients over the years. I don't know about everyone else but I don't know many perfect people.
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