Disclosing unexpected outcomes and medical error.

Health-care professionals have a responsibility to communicate honestly and empathetically with patients and families when there has been a disappointing outcome in care. They need to understand how all parties think about, feel, and react to the situation. It is too easy for health-care providers and patients and their families to feel that their interests are no longer aligned and to have expectations go unmet. Based on the authors' clinical experience, this article outlines a suggested educational approach for organizations interested in developing their clinicians' skills in the art of disclosure when an unexpected outcome or medical error occurs.