Commentary: to err is human--but not in health care.
Despite high levels of competence and dedication among health care professionals, human error causes many deaths each year. Unlike other industries, however, the health care industry treats mistakes as personal failures of the clinician instead of system-related issues. To assist patients, their families, and clinicians, healing institutions should improve error-prevention systems, while embracing a more accepting view of human fallibility.
Forkner-Dunn
D J
DJ
KP Online, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, 1800 Harrison St, 18th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612, USA. june.forkner-dunn@kp.org
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000401:mortality*; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology