Recurring concern
Failure to control confirmation bias in safety-critical decision-making
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Request correctionFirst reported 28 Aug 2020•Latest report 14 Oct 2025
What this concern includes
Includes failures of controls specifically dedicated to recognising, challenging or mitigating confirmation bias in safety-critical clinical, emergency or custodial decision-making, including training, review mechanisms, professional-curiosity safeguards and assessment processes.
Not included
- Excludes generic training, professional-curiosity or decision-making deficiencies that are not explicitly linked to confirmation bias.
- Excludes ordinary clinical errors or poor decisions where confirmation bias is not identified as the relevant unsafe condition.
- Excludes generic information-sharing, staffing, governance or communication failures unless they directly undermine a dedicated confirmation-bias control.
- Excludes unrelated prioritisation or triage failures where the reported problem is not bias affecting the safety-critical decision.
- Reports
- 5
- Individual concerns
- 5
- Date range
- 2020–2025
- Stated actions
- 6
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of robust mechanisms to mitigate confirmation bias and encourage professional curiosity
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Share learning from the case about confirmation bias and professional curiosity through Grand Round and medical-student teaching.
Stated by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust -
Action
Present the case for patient-safety discussion and learning about confirmation bias.
Stated by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Absence of training to guard against confirmation bias in assessing enduring choking risk
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Implement an electronic Read and Sign record requiring new staff to familiarise themselves with SALT guidelines immediately.
Stated by Bolton Cares -
Action
Add SALT guidelines to standard bi-monthly team meeting agendas to reinforce ongoing awareness of choking risk.
Stated by Bolton Cares
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Concerns raised1
Confirmation bias affecting clinical reviews
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Deliver the ‘Keeping Safe in ED’ induction module covering human factors, confirmation bias, chickenpox learning and listening to parents.
Stated by Sheffield Children'S NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Raise staff awareness of human factors by developing educational videos for current and future Trust staff.
Stated by Sheffield Children'S NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to prioritise relevant staff for confirmation bias training
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of training on confirmation bias affecting staff decision making
This report raised 17 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026