What defines a “whistleblower” in a healthcare context?

In a healthcare context, a whistleblower is defined as someone who reports suspected wrongdoing. This could encompass a variety of actions aimed at disclosing unethical or illegal activities within an organization, such as fraud, patient safety violations, or abuse. The critical feature that characterizes a whistleblower is their willingness to speak up about concerns that jeopardize the integrity of healthcare delivery and patient safety, often at personal risk.

The nature of their role is vital to maintaining accountability and transparency in healthcare settings, where the potential impact of misconduct can be significant for patient care and public trust. In contrast, collecting data on patient outcomes, monitoring internal compliance, or preparing for performance reviews are activities that do not inherently involve reporting misconduct or ethical breaches. These actions may support compliance and quality improvement, but they do not fulfill the whistleblower role defined by the act of reporting misconduct.