When encountering a disagreement in care with another clinician, what is the most appropriate communication approach?

• A. Publicly challenge the other clinician.
• B. Ignore the disagreement and proceed.
• C. Use respectful interprofessional communication, seek consensus, involve appropriate team members, and document.
• D. File a report with legal authorities.

Answer: (C)

When clinicians disagree about patient care, the best approach is to engage in respectful interprofessional communication aimed at reaching consensus. Talk with the other clinician privately, share concerns with objective data, listen to their perspective, and propose alternative plans. If you can’t agree, involve appropriate team members such as a supervisor, attending, or a multidisciplinary or ethics resource, and document the discussion and the final decision in the chart. This keeps patient safety at the forefront, preserves professional relationships, and provides a clear record of what was decided and why.

Publicly challenging a colleague disrupts teamwork and can jeopardize patient care. Ignoring the disagreement and proceeding without resolution risks patient safety and professional accountability. Filing a report with legal authorities is not the first step in a routine clinical disagreement; use established internal processes (escalation, team huddles, or ethics/quality channels) unless there is a clear legal or safety violation that mandates external reporting.