A systematic narrative review of coroners’ Prevention of Future Deaths reports (PFDs): a tool for patient safety in hospitals.

Benjamin T Bremner; Carl J. Heneghan; Jeffrey K Aronson; Georgia C Richards

Review

A systematic narrative review of coroners’ Prevention of Future Deaths reports (PFDs): a tool for patient safety in hospitals.

November 1, 2023

Bremner BT, Heneghan CJ, Aronson JK, et al. J Patient Saf Risk Manag. 2023;28(5):227-236.

View more articles from the same authors.

Autopsies and coronial investigations provide important learning opportunities. In the UK, coroners may issue Prevention of Future Death reports (PFD) when they determine taking actions could prevent future deaths. This review summarizes studies that use PFDs to investigate patient safety, such as medication- or diagnosis-related deaths. The authors conclude the impact of PFDs could be strengthened by improving the reporting and dissemination system and enforcing the requirement that hospitals submit a response.

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