A public inquiry into the clinical malpractice scandal at St Jude's Hospital has heard that junior nursing staff who administered inappropriate dosages of sedative medication were "just following orders" from senior medical consultants.
A junior nurse testifying under anonymity stated that clinicians felt unable to challenge the decisions of the Chief Consultant, who wore a distinctive formal white coat and held a prestigious academic title. The inquiry heard that the hospital's rigid hierarchy meant that challenging authority was viewed as insubordination. One email read out to the inquiry from a ward manager instructed staff to "get the patients quietened down by any means necessary, and do not question the clinical lead."
Lawyers representing the affected families argue that individual staff members must take responsibility, but defence representatives argue that the systemic pressure to obey authority made independent decision-making virtually impossible.
Using your psychological knowledge of obedience to authority, suggest a training programme designed to reduce blind obedience among healthcare staff at St Jude's Hospital.
