By Gabriel Princewill-
The root causes of surgical errors in Mid Essex hospitals should be made public, a body of professionals associated with The Eye Of Media.Com has concluded.
Academics examining the situation at the hospital trust comprising Southend and Basildon hospital that has attracted criticism in the past year, say that in the absence of knowing the root causes of catastrophic errors that have occurred, it would be impossible to determine where the blame really lies.
Southend hospital has not responded to requests by this publication to make public the causes of some of the catastrophic errors that beset its institution.
However, it has spoken of its efforts to avoid a recurrence of such errors.
Recent revelations of surgical errors, including never events, at Mid Essex Hospital have ignited a contentious debate over accountability, compensation for affected individuals, and transparency regarding the root causes of these incidents.
Never events, defined as preventable patient safety incidents, have raised serious concerns about the efficacy of existing preventative measures, and the need for accountability when such errors occur.
Among the documented incidents are surgeries performed on the wrong side of the body, including lumpectomies conducted on incorrect breasts, and the removal of wrong skin lesions.
The consequences of these errors are profound, potentially resulting in inadequate treatment for serious conditions or unnecessary harm to patients. Why they occur remains a mystery.
In response, questions have been raised about whether punitive action should be taken against those responsible for these errors, and whether compensation should be provided to affected individuals.
Advocates for punitive action argue that holding individuals and institutions accountable for never events is essential to ensuring patient safety and maintaining public trust in the healthcare system.
They contend that disciplinary measures, such as reprimands, fines, or even legal action, may be necessary to deter future errors and prevent recurrence.
However, representatives of the hospital argue that errors often cannot be blamed on individual surgeons, but are rather attributable to endemic issues in the system, which is collectively shared by the institution.
Transparency advocates argue that sharing the findings of investigations is essential to promoting accountability, learning from mistakes, and improving patient safety.
They contend that open and honest communication about never events can help rebuild trust with patients and demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement within healthcare organizations.
Blackwater Law firm, whose Freedom of Information Request led to the latest revelations of surgical errors, told The Eye Of Media.Com: ” In an ideal world, the trust should declare the reasons these surgical errors have occurred, but that would leave them open[to attack].
‘There are probably many reasons that combine to cause these errors. They don’t happen in a vacuum.
‘Sometimes the root causes of these surgical errors might be endemic, but there are also times they are result of an error of a doctor or surgeon.
‘The way it works is that it is the trust that takes responsibility over these issues, and would be liable in the event of culpability.
According to the trust, learning experiences are preferrable to a culture of blame, more so, given the invaluable role medical experts play in society.
Some critics say that holding individual surgeons liable for few and improbable errors that occur can have the counter productive effect of deterring prospective doctors from joining the profession already battling to maintain an adequate workforce.
One nurse, only happy to give her first name as Charlie said: ”just imagine if every doctor that made a doctor was found liable, few qualified doctors would accept the post. It’s about assessing the level of mistake and how likely or unlikely such mistakes can be.
”Certain mistakes should never occur, and the key to progress is determining why such mistakes occurred and doing the best to prevent their recurrence.
Against this view is the stance held by proponents of compensation for affected individuals, who assert that victims of surgical errors deserve financial redress for the harm they have suffered.
‘Compensation could help alleviate the financial burdens associated with additional medical treatment, emotional distress, and lost wages, providing a measure of justice for those affected by never events, Reece Taylor, a 33 year old counsellor said.
‘The fact these events should never have occurred highlights the imperative call or punitive action of some kind’.
However, opponents of punitive action and compensation argue that such measures may inadvertently contribute to a culture of blame and litigation within healthcare settings.
They caution against scapegoating individual healthcare professionals or imposing financial penalties on institutions, which could deter reporting of errors and impede efforts to foster a culture of safety and learning.
Yet, concerns linger about the transparency of investigations into never events and the disclosure of root causes.
While identifying and addressing systemic weaknesses is critical to preventing recurrence, some argue that publicly disclosing the root causes of errors could stigmatize healthcare providers and compromise patient confidentiality.
Others insist that the dangers of secrecy in important matters like health which could be matters of life and death, far outweigh other considerations.
In May 2023, Tony Sayers who attended Southend hospital to have an infection treated, died mysteriously after being transferred to Southend hospital for treatment.
His wife laboured in vain for months, seeking an explanation for how and her husband died when he only went to the hospital for an infection treatment.
She became so troubled that she contacted The local Southend Echo and Essex Live , seeking accountability, but felt abandoned after both publication held back on reporting on the story for over a month, despite acknowledging her emails.
It was after The Eye Of Media.Com intervened that both the Southend Echo and Essex Live eventually covered the story, sparking a probe about why the grieving widow was left her feeling abandoned for so long.
Ms Sayers eventually complained to her MP James Duddridge, whose office said they made representations to the hospital, asking for an explanation of Ms Sayer’s treatment.
The hospital now says they have addressed Ms Sayer’s complaints.
Transparency advocates argue that sharing the findings of investigations is essential to promoting accountability, learning from mistakes, and improving patient safety.
They contend that open and honest communication about never events can help rebuild trust with patients and demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement within healthcare organizations.
Ultimately, the debate over accountability, compensation, and transparency in the aftermath of surgical errors at Mid Essex Hospital highlights the complex ethical and practical considerations involved in addressing never events.