Error in Medicine: What Have We Learned?
Authors: David W. Bates, Atul A. Gawande
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2000)

Medical Writings2 May 2000Error in Medicine: What Have We Learned?David W. Bates, MD, MSc and Atul A. Gawande, MD, MPHDavid W. Bates, MD, MScBrigham and Women's Hospital; Boston, MA 02115 (Bates)Brigham and Women's Hospital; Boston, MA 02115 (Gawande) and Atul A. Gawande, MD, MPHBrigham and Women's Hospital; Boston, MA 02115 (Bates)Brigham and Women's Hospital; Boston, MA 02115 (Gawande)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-132-9-200005020-00025 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail I don't want to make the wrong mistake.Yogi BerraOver the past decade, it has become increasingly apparent that error in medicine is neither rare nor intractable. Traditionally, medicine has downplayed error as a negligible factor in complications from medical intervention. But, as data on the magnitude of error accumulate—and as the public learns more about them—medical leaders are taking the issue seriously. In particular, the recent publication of the Institute of Medicine report has resulted in an enormous increase in attention from the public, the government, and medical leadership (1).Human Error in MedicineSeveral books have been ...References1. Corrigan J, Kohn LT, Donaldson MS, eds. To Err is Human. Building a Safer Health System. Washington, DC: National Academy Pr; 2000. Google Scholar2. Bogner MS, ed. Human Error in Medicine. Hillsdale, NJ: L. Erlbaum Associates; 1994. Google Scholar3. Reason JT. Foreword.. In: Bogner MS, eds. Human Error in Medicine. Hillsdale, NJ: L. Erlbaum Associates; 1994:vii-xv. Google Scholar4. Reason JT. Human Error. Cambridge, England: Cambridge Univ Pr; 1990. Google Scholar5. Leape LL. The preventability of medical injury.. In: Bogner MS, eds. Human Error in Medicine. Hillsdale, NJ: L. 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Identifying adverse drug events: development of a computer-based monitor and comparison with chart review and stimulated voluntary report. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 1998;5:305-14. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar23. Koch KE. Use of standardized screening procedures to identify adverse drug reactions. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1990;47:1314-20. MedlineGoogle Scholar24. Honigman B, Bates DW, Light P. Computerized data mining for adverse drug events in an outpatient setting [Abstract]. Proceedings of the American Medical Informatics Fall Symposium; 7-11 November 1998, Orlando, Florida. Philadelphia: Hanley & Belfus; 1998:1018. Google Scholar25. Teich JM, Glaser JP, Beckley RF, Aranow M, Bates DW, Kuperman GJ, et al. Toward cost-effective, quality care; the Brigham Integrated Computing System. 2nd Nicholas E. Davies CPR Recognition Symposium. 1996:3. Google Scholar26. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. Report to the Congress. Selected Medicare Issues. Washington, D.C.; 1999. Google Scholar27. Bodenheimer T. The American health care system—the movement for improved quality in health care. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:488-92. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: David W. Bates, MD, MSc; Atul A. Gawande, MD, MPHAffiliations: Brigham and Women's Hospital; Boston, MA 02115 (Bates)Brigham and Women's Hospital; Boston, MA 02115 (Gawande)Corresponding Author: David W. Bates, MD, MSc , Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115.Current Author Addresses: Dr. Bates: Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115.Dr. Gawande: Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoError in Medicine John Dale Dunn Error in Medicine David W. Bates and Atul A. 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