简介：

简介：Publicsafetyprovidesnewstatutoryprotectionsforwhistleblowers:Legislationenactedinordertoaddressmedicalerrorandfailuresofhospitalqualitysystemshasparadoxicallycreatedmechanismsthatareusedtosilencephysiciansandothercaregiverswhoseektoprotectpatientsafetybyreportingbreachesofprofessionalqualityandintegrity.Thelawsenactedtoprotectpatientscanbeandarecurrentlymisusedtosilencewhistleblowersthroughpunitivelegalproceedingsagainstpatientsafetyadvocates.Summarysuspensions,deprivationofdueprocess,andtransferofadjudicativeauthoritytothehandsoftheinstitutionsthatmostrequireoversightunderminestransparencyandpatientadvocacy.Amodestsetofstatutoryamendments,prophylacticandremedial,especiallytopreventprematurereportingofsummarysuspensions,cancounteracttheseinequitiesandrebalancetheHouseofMedicinesoastoprotectbothpatientsandthosewhowouldseektoensuretheirsafety,soitmaydonoharm.