Physicians have traditionally been reluctant to report errors, due in part to logistical barriers but also due to cultural barriers that inhibit error reporting. This survey of practicing obstetrician/gynecologists found that only slightly more than half of respondents felt comfortable reporting errors they had witnessed. Interestingly, physicians who had themselves been the victim of an error, or who had a family member injured as a result of an error, were more likely to both report errors and describe witnessing errors in their own practice. The authors hypothesize that this finding may represent the availability heuristic.

This survey of practicing obstetricians found general support for patient safety measures, but cost and fear of malpractice litigation were cited as barriers to implementation.

The author describes a consultation program offered by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in which institutions can invite a team of Board-certified providers to tour their facility and evaluate whether practice patterns adhere to published guidelines.