A senior colleague tells you 'we don't Datix things like that here'. How do you respond?

Question

You are the ST4 on a busy AMU. A drug error you witnessed has not caused harm but should be reported. When you mention filing a Datix, the senior nurse-in-charge — well respected and supportive of you — says 'we don't Datix things like that here, it just gets people in trouble'.

Accepted Answer

I would respond respectfully but clearly. In the moment I would say something like, 'I hear what you're saying, and I know reporting can feel uncomfortable, but I think we should still Datix this — not to get anyone into trouble, but so we can learn from it.' My obligation under Good Medical Practice and the duty of candour is to be open about errors and to act when patient safety is at stake, regardless of local custom. I would submit the Datix myself, factually and without naming or blaming individuals, and inform the clinical lead and my consultant so they aren't blindsided. Importantly, I would preserve the relationship with the nurse-in-charge — she's senior, respected and probably acting from a protective instinct. Longer term, I would propose presenting anonymised incidents at our governance meeting as a learning case, and work with the clinical lead to reinforce that Datix is a learning tool, not a disciplinary one. Culture change is slow, but it starts with consistent professional behaviour and visible learning outcomes.

Datix culture — colleague resistance

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