Open disclosure is the expected response when a patient is harmed during health care. It is guided by the Australian Open Disclosure Framework from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
Core elements:
- Acknowledge the adverse event early.
- Apologise: saying "I am sorry this happened" is expected. In Australian states, an apology is generally protected and is not by itself an admission of liability.
- Explain the facts known so far, without speculating or blaming colleagues.
- Describe the consequences and the plan to manage them.
- Explain what is being done to prevent recurrence, and how the patient will be kept informed.
- Offer support and a contact person.
Report the incident through the local incident management system.
AMC stations commonly involve a wrong drug, a missed result or a surgical complication. Examiners want honesty, empathy, no defensiveness, and a clear follow-up plan. Hiding an error or blaming a nurse will fail the station.