Half of doctors mum about medical mistakes

Interesting how the facts and beliefs compare from this survey...although each case is it's own...but...look at the statement on payments..some are not accepting uninsured patients...as their income dwindles...so does the service and again we are rolling toward a real shortage of primary MDs...they need to eat and put food on the table as well; and with lower contracts with potential Medicare cuts looming...well what would you do if you were in their shoes?  BD 

WASHINGTON - Nearly half of all U.S. doctors fail to report incompetent or unethical colleagues, even though they agree that such mistakes should be reported, researchers said on Monday.   They found that 46 percent of physicians surveyed admitted they knew of a serious medical error that had been made but did not tell authorities about it.

Doctors also did not always practice what they preached ethically. While 93 percent of doctors said they should provide care regardless of a patient's ability to pay, only 69 percent actually accepted uninsured patients who cannot pay.

"There are state medical boards that don't even have their own teams of investigators," he added. "There are state medical boards that are, quite frankly, underfunded and understaffed."  "State medical boards only react to complaints — they are not a policing agency," Thompson said.  "State medical boards only react to complaints — they are not a policing agency," Thompson said.

Half of doctors mum about medical mistakes - Health care- msnbc.com