In an op-ed for The Albuquerque Journal, Patrick Hudson reflects on the recent $40 million medical negligence verdict against Presbyterian Healthcare System in Albuquerque, but argues the case highlights a bigger issue than just one mistake.
He writes that many physicians feel discouraged or reprimanded when they raise safety concerns about other clinical staff, leading to “moral injury” because they fear being labeled disruptive.
According to the Hudson, power in many healthcare settings has shifted toward mid-level providers and management, leaving doctors with risk and liability but limited authority to act on safety concerns. He calls for clear, protected channels for clinicians to speak up without retaliation, to improve patient safety and support those who try.