Intimidation by superiors affects the safety of medical orders.

544 P&T® • September 2011 • Vol. 36 No. 9 order not be processed until all parties are satisfied that the problem has been resolved. A health care professional’s persistence in communicating a perceived problem, even when he or she faces opposition from experts, can usually prevent an error from reaching patients. Thus, an effective process for handling conflicts involving drug therapy requires more than just a hierarchical structure of referring problems up the chain of command. Staff members need clear guidance and support from the organization’s leaders to follow through when supervisors or those in authority (such as the prescriber) do not agree with their expressed concern. Although the process to meet the unique needs of individual organizations may vary, guidelines may be helpful for developing or revising a process for handling conflicting opinions objectively and professionally.