A junior doctor at a Dublin hospital has apologised to a patient after admitting to making a mistake.
Leah Flanagan took to Twitter being brutally honest about a blunder she made during the job.
The trainee doctor said that she sat with the patient and acknowledged the slip-up.
She said: “I made a mistake on call the other day. No one died. In many ways, people probably would have probably said it was menial.
“But it shouldn't have happened and the patient gave out to me. 100% correctly.
“I went and sat with her to apologise for half an hour after my shift and let her talk. I just listened.
“Then I explained what had happened from my side and ultimately, I apologised. Because I could have done better.”
Dr. Flanagan said she has learned to listen to her patient and to be more cautious when working "under pressure" as it "can really affect people".
She continued: “I spent a while trying to sort out a few more things for her afterwards and then went back in to see if she was feeling okay.
“She said some things that stuck with me and I feel should be shared. Because in medicine, they can be taken for granted.
“She said that my apology alone had helped her pain.
“She said that we all needed to just learn to listen to our patients and the snap decisions we make with limited information when we're under pressure, can really affect people and to remember that.”
She concluded: “I learned from that mistake even if it probably wasn't the biggest. I did my best, but my best wasn't good enough and all I can do is try to be better.
“I guess, all of us in healthcare and otherwise can only do that much. And it's okay to apologise and know you messed up.”
Users admired her bravery and sincerity with many admitting that they would be happy to have her as their doctor any day.
One said: “I have so much admiration for you. You saw your patient as a person, not a number.
"You took time to talk to her. Everyone makes mistakes. It takes a true person of humility & lack of ego to admit it and learn."
A second said: “Fair play Leah, it's not easy to admit any mistake but especially on here.
"I admire you, and you're taking on board what the lady said to you, you'll make one hell of a good doctor! Best wishes going forward.”
Another tweeted: “Wow Leah, you are only human like the rest of us, no one can operate at 100% all the time unless robotic!"
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