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Duty of candour — DipIMC MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

ModerateScene Safety and MedicolegalDuty of candourDipIMC

A drug dose error is recognised during handover, with no current harm to the patient. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: EEscalate, inform the receiving clinician and follow incident policy

Explanation lettering: E = shown as B · B = shown as E

B is correct: Medication errors require prompt disclosure to the clinical team, patient safety action and incident reporting. A is less suitable because it creates avoidable delay in a time-critical presentation; C is less suitable because it moves the patient before the decisive threat or destination issue is addressed; D is less suitable because analgesia is important but does not replace the first physiological intervention; E is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette. The most tempting alternative is therefore suboptimal because it either delays the time-critical pre-hospital intervention or sends the patient to the wrong level of care. The key DipIMC principle is focused cABCDE decision-making with early pre-alert, triage or retrieval escalation when the scene physiology demands it.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; GMC Good Medical Practice; JESIP Joint Doctrine