In "Barriers to Reporting Medication Errors" (Letters, March 2009)* the writer said she stopped reporting a peer's medication errors because of the peer's angry confrontation and threat of a lawsuit. It seems to me that those reviewing variances in the writer's facility don't embrace confidentiality in the variance review process. Why else would the nurse who made the mistake confront her peer?

Without a confidential process in place, variances may not be reported, the facility misses out on correcting both individual and systems problems, and the quality of care is compromised: a perfect storm.

-DAWN FRANCESCHINI, RN, MSN

Smithfield, R.I.

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