Errors or mistakes committed by health professionals which result in harm to the patient. They include errors in diagnosis (DIAGNOSTIC ERRORS), errors in the administration of drugs and other medications (MEDICATION ERRORS), errors in the performance of surgical procedures, in the use of other types of therapy, in the use of equipment, and in the interpretation of laboratory findings. Medical errors are differentiated from MALPRACTICE in that the former are regarded as honest mistakes or accidents while the latter is the result of negligence, reprehensible ignorance, or criminal intent.
    

concept

A surgeon at Whitworth in County Durham letting blood from Thomas Thurlow, Bishop of Durham, but leaving his patient in order to attend to a sick horse. Coloured etching by H.W., 1791.

A sick man lamenting the uselessness of his physicians. Engraving by J.D. Hertz, 17--.

The doctor / words by A.J. Morris ; music by Geo le Brunn ; sung by Dan Leno.

Medical Errors

Images

Catalogue

Medical errors and medical narcissism / John Banja.

A framework for measuring and monitoring safety : a practical guide to using a new framework for measuring and monitoring safety in the NHS.

A costly cure?.

Joshua's story : uncovering the Morecambe Bay NHS scandal / James Titcombe.

Medicine on trial : the appalling story of ineptitude, malfeasance, neglect, and arrogance / Charles B. Inlander, Lowell S. Levin, Ed Weiner.