Why Doctors Hide Mistakes
One of my earliest memories of shame in medicine comes from my surgical rotation as a medical student. I woke up at 4 am to be at the hospital by 5 am to round on post-surgical patients. One morning, I forgot to put a patient’s identification sticker on the progress note in their paper chart. After my presentation in front of a group of residents and students, the attending called me a “lazy doctor.” My face went hot with shame as I looked down. I had tried so hard, and I didn’t know what I could have done better. I thought I had presented well and written a complete progress note. My only mistake was forgetting the sticker. I never forgot a patient sticker again after that day. I also never forgot the shame of being called a “lazy” doctor. That’s the thing about shame-based teaching: It works—in a way. Shame made sure I never forgot again, but it also taught me that making a mistake meant I was a “bad” doctor. I wasn’t alone. …








