DUTY OF CARE AND DUTY OF CANDOUR

The duty of care and the duty of candor are two fundamental ideas that govern how healthcare professionals should behave. These values are the cornerstones of moral and responsible healthcare practice, not just trendy catchphrases. Many people may find it confusing to explain how the duty of care relates to the duty of candor. But it is quite simple if you understand the difference between them. Moreover, AI has it all (helpwithdissertation, 2019). In this essay, we will examine the connection between the duty of care and the duty of candor, as well as their importance in maintaining patients’ trust and well-being.

1. Recognizing the duty of care

·        A Comprehensive Focus on Patient Welfare

The fundamental ethical principle of duty of care requires that healthcare professionals always act in the patient’s best interests apart from finding a Pay someone do your assignment service. The duty of healthcare providers for the safety, health, and general well-being of their patients is emphasized by the fact that it is more than simply a recommendation but also a legal and ethical requirement. This dedication covers every aspect of patient care, including diagnosis, treatment, communication, and the holy space of secrecy.

·        Complementary Responsibility

Physicians are not the only ones who must uphold a duty of care. It encompasses all members of the healthcare team, including nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and others in its protective net. It calls for them to provide each patient with individualized care that is based on evidence-based procedures and sensitive to their needs and preferences.

2. The Value of the Duty of Care

·        Patient Safety Watchdog

The primary goal of Duty of care and duty of candor in healthcare is to protect patients, which is a crucial task. The concept of duty of care arises as a sentinel, protecting against injury and neglect. When healthcare providers put this responsibility first, it serves as a safeguard, lowering the possibility of medical errors and enhancing patient safety.

3. Credibility Elevation

The foundation of the patient-provider interaction is trust. Patients trust medical experts with the care of their lives and well-being. Duty of Care promotes confidence in the healthcare system by displaying a commitment to patients’ best interests.

·        A moral compass

The ethical radiance of duty of care surpasses its status as a legal requirement. It represents the commitment of healthcare workers to follow moral norms, protect patient privacy, and deliver care infused with empathy and unending compassion.

·        Legal Repercussions

Legal repercussions for breaching the Duty of Care may be extensive and include malpractice claims. The law requires healthcare practitioners to deliver care in accordance with accepted standards; any failure to do so may result in legal repercussions.

4. Recognizing the duty of candor

·       Bringing Light to the Dark Places

The duty of candor got onto the NHS agenda due to the Mid Staffordshire inquiry report and the long-term “interest group” campaign associated with Robbie’s Law (Powell, 2020). Despite being a more recent addition to healthcare ethics, the duty of candor complements the duty of care. When bad events taint the landscape of medical treatment, healthcare providers are required by law and ethics to be open, truthful, and upfront. This includes the admission of mistakes, the disclosure of unfavorable results, and the lighting of unforeseen complications.

5. The Value of Candor in Duty

The foundation of trust between healthcare practitioners and patients is honest and open communication. The foundation of this confidence is the Duty of Candour. The trust framework is strengthened when healthcare workers recognize and discuss negative incidents because it highlights their dedication to openness and responsibility.

·       Patient Empowerment

In their healthcare journeys, patients take an active role, not just passive observers. Patients are empowered by the duty of candor since it gives them the right to information about their medical care. To make educated judgments, it gives consumers precise information about their condition, including any potential danger or complications.

·       Facilitator of Learning and Development

Acknowledging errors and candidly discussing negative incidents spurs organizational development. Duty of Candor opens the door for learning from these encounters and encourages healthcare institutions to make adjustments that will stop such situations from happening again, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

·       The Moral and Legal Duty

Nowadays, the Duty of Candour is legally recognized in many healthcare countries which supports the importance of ethical responsibilities in healthcare. The serious legal repercussions of failing to immediately and truthfully highlight its crucial importance in healthcare ethics.

6. The connection between the duties of care and candor

Responsibility:

·        The Proactive Sentinel

In the foreground of this ethereal dance, Duty of Care stands as a watchful protector who tries ceaselessly to avert negative outcomes. By putting patient safety as its top priority, it serves as the proactive vanguard. It directs medical personnel toward the way of moral care, supported by an unshakeable dedication to patients’ welfare, like a lighthouse on stormy shores.

Duty of Care insists on compassion as the lifeblood of healthcare delivery rather than being satisfied with mere skill. It exhorts healthcare professionals to lovingly accommodate each patient’s unique requirements and preferences in addition to adhering to evidence-based methods. Duty of Care is a proactive approach to preventing unfavorable events from happening in the first place, creating a shield of protection around the patient-provider connection.

·       Integrity Obligation:

The Luminous Beacon

Despite the greatest efforts of Duty of Care, discordant notes occasionally appear as the healthcare symphony is being performed. Duty of Candour emerges as a guiding light amid the darkness in these times of struggle, radiating as the center stage. Open communication, a readiness to take ownership of mistakes, and an unshakable commitment to problem-solving are requirements of the duty of candor.

Duty of Candor urges healthcare workers to take the initiative when the unexpected happens, admitting the existence of adverse events and embracing transparency. It is an invitation to have open conversations with patients, explaining the specifics of what went wrong and, most importantly, accepting accountability for any harm done.

7.  Duty of Care and Duty of Candor Work Together in Harmony

Duty of Care and Duty of Candor dance together rather than separately in the grand ballet of healthcare ethics, dancing a sophisticated pas de deux. They work together as partners, with their duties complementing one another rather than being competitors.

The proactive foundation provided by upholding the duty of care lowers the probability of unfavorable events. Healthcare professionals make the patient journey easier and safer by putting patient safety first and respecting ethical care standards. A solid foundation makes a building less prone to collapse.

Adversity may still enter the healthcare industry, though, as it is by its very nature a complex field with many unknowns. The duty of Candour enters the picture with style at this point. It changes a negative incident from a potential rupture in the patient-provider relationship into a chance for development and recovery. Patients are informed, supported, and urged to take an active role in the resolution process rather than being kept in the dark.

Conclusion

The duties of care and candor in the healthcare industry are two sides of the same ethical coin rather than two distinct moral obligations. To uphold the greatest standards of patient care, safety, and trust, they cooperate. Understanding and supporting these values will enable healthcare professionals to foster a setting where patients feel secure, valued, and educated, ultimately resulting in better results for patients and belief in the healthcare system.

References

HWD, (2021).  Artificial Intelligence. Online Available at <https://www.helpwithdissertation.co.uk/blog/artificial-intelligence/> [Accessed on 22^nd August 2023]

Powell, M. (2020). The duty of candour and the NHS agenda. International Journal of Health Governance, 25(2), 107-116.