Tens of thousands of Americans are killed every year by medical errors and many more are injured. Its Policy The Food and Drug Administration says medical devices are a big part of the problem. The agency says many products aren't designed with the users in mind, and it is requiring firms to pay more attention. The agency has been showing a video about medical device design flaws, so manufacturers and health-care professionals become more aware of where errors may arise. Drug vials look similar but contain very different medications.
Machines have very complicated controls.
All these things happening simultaneously in a noisy, crowded operating room. Tangled Tubes Tangled cords and tubing, such as from an IV drip, or from the mess of wires or cables in an operating room, can create hazards, too. Figuring out which drug is being administered through which infusion pump can be difficult. Packaging also poses problems. The FDA showed the footage at a teleconference in February for health-care professionals, asking for feedback from experts.