A physician discovers a non-harmful but significant error was made during a patient's routine clinic visit (e.g., a medication was prescribed incorrectly but caught before dispensing, or a planned referral was accidentally delayed by one week without clinical impact). The error did not cause any patient harm. According to best practices in patient safety and professional ethics, what is the most appropriate action?
✓ Correct Answer: Option B
Best practices and ethical guidelines dictate that patients should be informed of medical errors, even if no harm occurred. This promotes transparency, builds trust, and allows the patient to participate in their care. Withholding information erodes trust. Internal documentation is also important but not sufficient without patient disclosure.