1 Introduction to oncology and medical errors 1
Antonella Surbone and Michael Rowe
Part I Medical errors and oncology: background and context
2 Recognizing and facing medical errors: the perspective of a physician who is also the patient 17
Itzhak Brook
3 Psychological and existential consequences of medical error for oncology professionals 29
Mary J. Chalino, Evelyn Y.T. Wong, Bradley L. Collins, and Richard T. Penson
4 To sue or not to sue: restoring trust in patient–doctor–family relationships 51
Michael Rowe and Antonella Surbone
Part II Improving patient safety in clinical oncology practice
5 Prevention of errors and patient safety: oncology nurses’ perspectives 67
Martha Polovich
6 Prevention of errors and patient safety from the oncologist’s perspective 87
Meghan E. C. Shea, Nie Bohlen, and Inga T. Lennes
7 Disclosing harmful medical errors 101
Walter F. Baile and Daniel Epner
8 Do cross-cultural differences influence the occurrence and disclosure of medical errors in oncology? 111
Lidia Schapira, Joseph R. Betancourt, and Alexander R. Green
Part III Cancer patients, oncology professionals, and institutions against medical errors
9 Prevention of errors and patient safety: institutional perspectives 127
Eric Manheimer
10 Professional and ethical responsibilities in adverse events and medical errors: discussions when things go wrong 145
Patrick Forde and Albert W. Wu
11 Medical error and patient advocacy 158
Juanne N. Clarke, PhD
12 Conclusion: the “given” and “therefores” of clinical oncology and medical errors 172
Antonella Surbone and Michael Rowe