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Volume 348:1184-1185 March 20, 2003 Number 12
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Views of Practicing Physicians and the Public on Medical Errors

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by Blendon, R. J.
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To the Editor: Physicians underestimate the degree to which medical care, which was formerly simple, ineffective, and safe, is now complex, effective, and unsafe. Blendon et al. (Dec. 12 issue)1 report that physicians are aware of medical errors but believe that the report of the Institute of Medicine seriously overstates the magnitude of the problem. Part of this misconception may be rooted in the psyche of physicians. Physicians, because of their background and training, tend to be success-oriented persons for whom failure is unthinkable. The expectation of infallibility demanded of physicians reinforces this attitude.

Our culture affixes blame for accidents . . . [Full Text of this Article]



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