Would you speak up if the consultant got it wrong? ...and would you listen if someone said you'd got it wrong?

In 2005 my late wife died during an attempted operation. I'm an airline pilot and I recognised early on that the factors that lead to Elaine's death mirrored those commonly found in many aviation accidents. In this article I'll ask you to reflect on the culture within healthcare around human error and 'teamwork'. I will ask you to reflect on your own personal responsibilities about safety. I will also argue that technical competence is not a guarantee of safe outcomes; alongside it you must have competence in 'non-technical' skills.