How can healthcare professionals demonstrate accountability?

• A. Blaming colleagues.
• B. Acknowledging mistakes, following policies, and taking responsibility for outcomes.
• C. Hiding errors.
• D. Ignoring policies.

Answer: (B)

Accountability means taking ownership of your actions and their outcomes in patient care. Demonstrating it involves openly acknowledging when a mistake happens, following established policies and procedures, and accepting responsibility for what results, including any harm. This approach supports patient safety by enabling transparent error reporting, learning from mistakes, and putting corrective measures in place to prevent recurrence. It also builds trust with patients and the care team and aligns with ethical and legal responsibilities. Blaming colleagues, hiding errors, or ignoring policies undermine accountability because they avoid ownership, block learning, and compromise safety and standards of care.