Clinical courage

A courageous action is one where there is a morally worthy goal, associated with real or perceived danger, and which involves acceptance of the inherent risks and benefits of any act (or omission) (Konkin et al, 2020).

Clinical courage is the term used to describe the practice of medicine—or paramedicine—outside one's usual scope of practice, or relevant clinical guidelines, to provide essential medical care (Konkin et al, 2020). It has been said that clinical courage is a nebulous entity, which inhabits the grey zone at the fringes of competence (Wootton, 2011). Another expression of the concept could be that it exists where patient needs push us to the edge of our training and experience. This borders on clinical recklessness, where stepping outside of one's competence is unprofessional, risky or indeed harmful, and we must be mindful to not venture too far into the grey areas that we find ourselves in this position.