Duty of Candour describes how providers of health and adult social care are obliged to be open and honest with their patients, families and carers when something goes wrong with their treatment. It also applies to situations where the care given has caused harm or has the potential to cause significant harm in the future.
In practical terms, this means that all healthcare professionals have a duty to:
- inform patients (or, where appropriate, the patient’s advocate, carer or family) when something has gone wrong
- apologise to the patient (or, where appropriate, the patient’s advocate, carer or family)
- offer an appropriate remedy or support to put matters right (if possible)
- explain fully to the patient (or, where appropriate, the patient’s advocate, carer or family) the short and long term effects of what has happened.
Healthcare professionals must also be open and honest with their colleagues, employers, their regulator and other relevant organisations. They must take part in reviews and investigations when requested and raise concerns where appropriate.
Application
Duty of Candour has statutory / legal status in England and Scotland and is currently being considered by the National Assembly for Wales as part of the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Bill. There is currently no statutory Duty of Candour in Northern Ireland.
Resources
- General Medical Council - Openness and honesty when things go wrong: The professional duty of candour
- General Dental Council - Being open and honest with patients when something goes wrong
- Medical Defence Union - Your quick guide to the duty of candour