Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I repeat that if a patient or any member of the patient's family has a concern that a near miss has occurred or that a no-harm incident has happened, it is quite logical, reasonable and, dare I say, obvious that he or she would make the provider aware of it and that the provider, having been made aware of it, would examine the issue.

In the event then that the provider forms the view that there had been a no-harm incident or near miss there would be an open disclosure on the part of the provider. In the circumstances, that is what I think is the way to deal with it. I believe it is important that the provider who makes the disclosure of a near miss would do so on the basis that there is a reasonable belief that a patient had been placed at risk and it is the provider that forms that view rather than anybody else.

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