Understanding Duty of Candour: Legislation for health services to protect patients 'when things go wrong'

In response to a surge in hospital incidents where patients and their families were not adequately informed about mistakes made within the health services, a legislative requirement - the 'Duty of candour' came into effect for all Victorian health services over a year ago. Dr Sandeep Bhagat explains this law in detail, as well as the existing elements of open disclosure that patients and their families/carers should receive when a serious patient safety event occurs. Tune into the podcast to know more...

Dr Sandeep Bhagat, a palliative care specialist in Melbourne.

A statutory duty of candour is a legal obligation to ensure that consumers of healthcare and their families are apologised to, and communicated with, openness, honesty and transparency when things have gone seriously wrong in their care.

The legislative requirement for Victorian health services came into effect on 30 November 2022.

'Openness and honesty': Victoria's new duty of candour laws. Credit: Pexels

Dr. Sandeep Bhagat, Head of Palliative Care at Peninsula Health and a member of Palliative Care Victoria, is a well-known doctor in Victoria with over 20 years of experience.

Speaking to SBS Punjabi, he explains why everyone must educate themselves about this new legislation, which enhances the quality and transparency of Victoria's healthcare services, and he also explains the guidelines in detail.

Tune in to the podcast to hear the interview with Dr Sandeep Bhagat in Punjabi.

To read more about this in Punjabi, click here for community information released by the Victorian Government.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, that this is general advice only. For specific problems, please consult your healthcare service.

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'ਡਿਊਟੀ ਔਫ ਕੈੈਂਡੋਰ': ਮਰੀਜ਼ਾਂ ਦੀ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਹਸਪਤਾਲਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸਿਹਤ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਵਿਚਲਾ ਅਹਿਮ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ

SBS Punjabi

28/02/202414:46

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