title: Adverse health-care events: Part 1. The nature of the problem.
abstract: Adverse events are a significant cause of unnecessary harm in health care and can lead to both physical and psychological injury and, in some cases, death. This paper, the first in a series of four, outlines the nature and extent of the problem. The overall aim of the series is to enhance knowledge levels among nurses in an attempt to reduce the number of adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Education, University of Luton, Bedford, Bedfordshire.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Milligan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bird
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012308:Risk Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000592:standards; D006113:United Kingdom