[Iatrogeny in paediatrics: reconsider attitudes].
Iatrogeny is a pathologic condition caused in a patient in the different stages of a medical act. In the United States, it is the fourth cause of death but in Portugal, data are not yet available. Though different from medical error, it is still a taboo subject for health care providers. The authors report a case of relational, diagnostic and therapeutic iatrogeny with serious consequences for the patient. Doctors have a fundamental role in reducing morbidity and mortality due to iatrogenic causes; they have the duty to question and reconsider diagnosis and treatments, keeping an alert attitude and self-criticism in order to identify potential iatrogenic interventions or to correct it as soon as possible.
Unidade de Infecciologia, Área de Pediatria Médica, Hospital de Dona Estefânia, Lisboa, Portugal.
Ema
E
Leal
Maria João
MJ
Brito
Catarina
C
Gouveia
Luís
L
Varandas
Gonçalo Cordeiro
GC
Ferreira
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy