Question

A 62-year-old woman with diabetes is given 10 times her usual rapid-acting insulin dose by mistake, resulting in severe hypoglycaemia and a short admission to high dependency, with full recovery. According to GMC guidance and the professional duty of candour, what should you do?

Accepted Answer

Explain to the patient what has happened, apologise, describe the short- and long-term effects, outline steps being taken to prevent recurrence and document the discussion and incident

Answer

Take no further action as she has recovered fully

Answer

Only record the incident in an internal risk register without telling the patient

Answer

Wait to see if she complains before responding

Answer

Alter the medical record to minimise evidence of the error

Practice question

A 62-year-old woman with diabetes is given 10 times her usual rapid-acting insulin dose by mistake, resulting in severe hypoglycaemia and a short admission to high dependency, with full recovery. According to GMC guidance and the professional duty of candour, what should you do?