García SE

Language: Spanish
References: 10
Page: 67-70
PDF size: 257.20 Kb.

ABSTRACT

When an error occurs in laboratory medicine, it may be due to omission, but never with intent. However, it may be significant in a patient’s care, and sometimes it may have catastrophic consequences: an incorrectly determined blood group when transfusing blood; a determination of potassium in a renal failure, to decide a dialysis; the inadequate identification of a parasite or a bacterium to establish a treatment. A lot of errors can present in the laboratory. Physicians are human, and as such, fallible. A physician may have errors, either due to deficiency in his training as a student, or as a professional in his continuing education or in his humanistic training. The physician must have a good scientific, technical, and ethical training. When an error is made, he should accept it and learn from it in order not to repeat it; he should also make it known (perhaps this is the most difficult), so that his colleagues do not commit it.

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