leadership and self-deception - Advanced Training Source

LEADERSHIP AND SELF-DECEPTION
LEADER’S GUIDE
Semmelweis noticed something else extremely important.Vienna General was both a teaching and
a research hospital. Many of the doctors, Semmelweis included, split their time between research
on cadavers and treatment of live patients. Moreover, the only difference between the two sections
of the maternity ward was that the high mortality section was attended by doctors, while the low
mortality section was attended by midwives — and midwives did not perform research on
cadavers. Finally, Semmelweis recalled that once when he had left Vienna for a time, the mortality
rate in his section of the maternity ward had actually decreased.The only difference between himself
and the doctor who had filled in during his absence was that the other physician did far less
research on cadavers.
From these observations, Semmelweis developed a theory about what caused childbed fever. He
concluded that “particles” from cadavers and other diseased patients were being transmitted to
healthy patients on the hands of physicians. Immediately, Semmelweis instituted a policy requiring
physicians to wash their hands thoroughly in a chlorine and lime solution before examining any
patient.The mortality rate decreased immediately and dramatically.
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