737 Diagnostic Errors

Diagnostic errors have gotten less attention from health care critics than medication mistakes or wrong-site surgeries, but they are just as dangerous. Without the right diagnosis, getting the right treatment is a matter of guesswork or luck.
Two renowned patient safety experts say diagnostic errors are far more common than most of us realize, and they offer some ideas for reducing the harm that such serious mistakes can cause. Their commentary, “Diagnostic Errors–The Next Frontier for Patient Safety,” appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Guests: David Newman-Toker, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The photo is of Dr. Newman-Toker.
Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.