Guest Editorial

Shah RK , Kentala E , Healy GB , Roberson DW . Classification and consequences of errors in otolaryngology. Laryngoscope 2004;114;1322–35.

Kohn LT , Corrigan JM , Donaldson MS . To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 2000.

Hebert PC , Levin AV , Robertson G. Bioethics for clinicians: 23. Disclosure of medical error. Can Med Ass J 2001;164:509–13.

Gallagher TH , Waterman AD , Ebers AG , Patients’ and physicians’ attitudes regarding the disclosure of medical errors. JAMA 2003;289:1001–7.

Chan DK , Gallagher TH , Reznick R , Levinson W. How surgeons disclose medical errors to patients: A study using standardized patients. Surgery 2005;138:851–8.

Lamb RM , Studdert DM , Bohmer RMJ , Hospitals’ error disclosure practices: Results of a national survey. Health Affairs Mar/Apr 2003;22:73–83.

Kachalia A , Shojania KG , Hofer TP , Does full disclosure of medical errors affect malpractice liability? The jury is still out. Jt Comm J Qual Saf 2003;29:503–11.

Kraman SS , Hamm G. Risk management: Extreme honesty may be the best policy. Ann Intern Med 1999;131:963–7.

Summaries of the experiences of individual hospitals and hospital systems with structured full-disclosure programs for medical errors can be found on the Sorry Works! Coalition Web site at www.sorryworks.net.