6 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O C T O B E R 2 0 1 6
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o one would disagree that every life is precious. Need proof? People
from all walks of life dash into burning buildings, dig through rubble
and plunge into raging waters just for the chance to pull someone
back from the brink. And yet this shared societal commitment to preserving
life seemingly doesn't extend to health care. If we truly value every life, why is
the news that an estimated quarter of a million patients die each year from pre-
ventable medical errors met with a shrug? There's more outrage generated
when a popular Dancing with the Stars contestant is voted off the show than
when we find out that the population of Orlando perishes each year because
healthcare professionals don't follow infection prevention protocols, forgo
safety checklists, overprescribe deadly amounts of medication or mark the
wrong surgical site. How much longer will you let that apathy continue?
Stop the Preventable Medical Error Crisis
How many more patients must die before we decide enough is enough?
On Point
Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD
• LOOK IN THE MIRROR It's time for all healthcare professionals to seriously consider what they can to do promote safe patient care.
