title: [Complications, adverse events and errors in medical treatment with the emphasis on transfusion treatment with blood components].
abstract: Adverse events and errors are relatively frequent in patients treatment and occur in all medical departments. In most cases they do not cause medical complications and they are seldom the cause of serious reactions and patients morbidity or mortality. Although adverse events and errors are almost always brought about by individual persons, their cause in the majority of cases is inadequate organization or bad working conditions. The frequency and serious consequences of errors and adverse events were not recognized until to the recent past and they were not analyzed enough mostly due to subjective or organizational reasons. The patient has to be informed about the error that has caused damage or harmed him. The decrease of harm done by errors and adverse reactions and their prevention can be achieved only by an organizational change with the introduction of quality management, specifically risk management, and the acceptance of the culture of quality and open dialogue by all. The errors that have already been made should be used for the improvement of health service and the patient's benefit. Full truth and genuine sincerity are the prerequisites for the protection against legal proceedings.
authors.affiliation: Klinika za internu medicinu, Klinicki bolnicki centar, Zagreb, Hrvatska.
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grgicević
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cikes
mesh_terms: D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors