Critical self-assessment can help prevent malpractice. (Identify Your Weaknesses).

KAUAI, HAwAII -- A little introspection goes a long way in preventing malpractice, J. Douglas Peters, J.D., said.

"Understanding ourselves, our weaknesses, and strengths will help us adopt coping and correcting mechanisms," he said at a conference on obstetrics, gynecology perinatal medicine, neonatology, and the law.

Professionals in any field are humans first, complete with illnesses, psychological conditions, addictive behaviors, and other human characteristics. Although it's tempting to assume that physician ignorance or poor surgical technique cause most medical malpractice injuries, or that institutional system failures are due to somebody's mistake, these are just the tip of the iceberg, said Mr. Peters of Detroit.

"The three-quarters of the mast that might sink your ship are within your power to control if you engage in openness" and other coping strategies, he said.

Learn to recognize the following specfic human frailties and set up systems to compensate for the vulnerabilities of your colleagues, he advised at the conference sponsored by Boston University.

* Be aware of personality problems. Insecurities may keep physicians from challenging a colleague or an idea, to the detriment of patients. Alternatively, an insecure physician may proceed with bluff or bluster when substance is lacking.

Poor communication can bury needed information or lead others to believe that you ...