The similarities between medical errors and SARS-CoV-2 might not be obvious. In one, the threat emerges from the actions or inactions of the health care system, and in the other, from the effects of a novel virus; one was first fully appreciated 25 years ago, and the other exploded on the scene in 2020; one is confined to health care settings, and the other can be anywhere. Yet, both are threats to health that have emerged (in the case of COVID-19) or been recognized (in the case of medical errors) relatively recently and that require laypeople, professionals, and institutions to take actions to prevent harm. An examination of their commonalities and dissimilarities reveals lessons applicable to ongoing and emerging health challenges, such as the opiate epidemic, gun violence, climate change, and future pathogens.

Source: New York Times January 08, 2024 16:03 UTC