The risks of double checking.
For many healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, double checking medications is part of the daily routine. However, a study of medication errors and how they are reported (Armitage 2003) reveals that double checking sometimes contributes to medication errors. This article describes how reasons for this can be gleaned from human error theory, and claims that a solution to the problem may lie in the aviation industry.
Armitage
Gerry
G
Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors