"If planes fell from the sky with the regularity of deaths due to medical error, there would be outrage, inquiries and sweeping reform. When doctors make mistakes, however, the narrative is gentler: they are only human. To some extent, this is an entirely justified response. On the other hand, that is the problem. What is striking, though, is not only the scale of this tragedy but our indifference to it."
"However, even in the most resourced health systems, staffed by the most dedicated clinicians, these problems will not entirely go away. Exhaustion and overwork exacerbate mistakes, but the deeper truth is that human beings are limited creatures. We forget, misjudge, and grow overconfident; our moods, biases and blind spots shape what we see and what we judge to be the case. Burnout makes these weaknesses worse, but it does not create them."
Medical care produces substantial preventable harm driven by errors that often meet with social indifference. Patients are visible victims while many physicians experience exhaustion, depression and burnout. Around half of US doctors report burnout; in the UK 40% struggle to provide adequate care weekly and a third feel unable to cope. Rising demand from ageing populations and chronic disease, plus an estimated global shortfall of about 10 million health workers by 2030, intensifies stress. Shortages, fatigue and cognitive limitations increase diagnostic, treatment and prescribing mistakes, and human biases persist even in well-resourced systems.
Read at Aeon
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