Transfusion errors — can they be eliminated?

Will transfusion errors due to human factors ever be eliminated?

To the Editor—The transfusion of ABO-mismatched blood usually results from patient misidentification and sample-labelling errors during phlebotomy. It is a common problem worldwide and causes more transfusion-related fatalities than does the transfusionmediated transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. Various approaches have been used to minimise human error during phlebotomy and blood tra...

Cognitive errors (can they be prevented?).

i A r r c a i Cognitive errors of omission and commission are unoubtedly the most common types of medical errors. There re 2 types of such errors: those due to a lack of knowledge nd those caused by the misuse, or the lack of use, of nowledge. The question is, can these mental activities be ealt with in such a manner that medical errors are diminshed? The answer is maybe. This being true, this ...

Can Monetary Disequilibrium be Eliminated?

Errors in medicine administration: how can they be minimised?

Errors in medicine administration often go unnoticed and unreported. This article describes three medicine-related errors and provides recommendations to reduce risk. All medicine-related errors should be reported locally and to the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) so that they can be collated and trends identified. Electronic prescribing and patient/medicine identification by bar codes, d...

Malaria in Africa Can Be Eliminated

A concerted effort to control malaria in Africa has produced dramatic reductions in childhood death in the past decade. This early success has prompted the global community to commit to eradication of malaria deaths and eventually all transmission. Evidence suggests that this is a feasible goal using currently available interventions, augmented with newer tools such as vaccines, which are in de...