The Soft Edges - A Series of Misunderstandings

Abstract

For a catastrophe to happen in medicine it is normally necessary for a series of misunderstandings to take place. We normally have several failsafe mechanisms that provide the patient and ourselves with protection. If mistakes are made in any section then they are usually picked up by one of the team of doctors. nurses. pharmacists, receptionists or the patients themselves. This has come about in attempts to reduce human error to a minimum. In medicine, said Professor JRA Mitchell of Nottingham University, the tragedies arise because doctors don't think, don't communicate clearly- can't be bothered or are ill and few problems arise because they don't know.