Problem: NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS: Wrong-Operation Doctor Hospitals find it hard to protect patients from wrong-site surgery Last year a jury returned a $20 million negligence verdict against Arkansas Children's Hospital for surgery on the wrong side of the brain of a 15-year-old boy who was left psychotic and severely brain damaged. Testimony showed that the error was not disclosed to his parents for more than a year. The hospital issued a statement saying it deeply regretted the error and had "redoubled our efforts to prevent" a recurrence. "Healthcare has far too little accountability for results. All the pressures are on the side of production; that's how you get paid," said Peter Pronovost, a prominent safety expert and medical director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Innovation in Quality Patient Care, who added that increased pressure to turn over operating rooms quickly has trumped patient safety, increasing the chance of error. Sandra G. Boodman, Kaiser Health News, The Washington Post, June 20, 2011
1. Discuss the issues of integrity in this case.
2. Should criminal charges be a consideration in this case, if accurately reported? Discuss your answer.