Abstract
The current rate of diagnostic error in modern medicine is about 10–15 %. Diagnostic error remains the most common reason for malpractice litigation, and it is the most costly category in this regard. Autopsy series suggest a significant rate of diagnostic error contributing to preventable patient mortality. While system errors may contribute to poor communication, the most common cause of diagnostic failure is a cognitive lapse or faulty reasoning on the part of the physician. This chapter considers the main theories explaining diagnostic reasoning and error. Armed with the knowledge of how diagnostic error commonly occurs, physicians may be in a better position to prevent error in the future. Various strategies to reduce diagnostic error are considered. The key to the reduction of diagnostic error may lie in the process of timely follow-up. This allows the diagnosis to be reconsidered, and it provides the physician with a more accurate understanding of his/her own diagnostic skills. With appropriate follow-up, alert physicians may detect error when it occurs, and they may alter their practice to prevent similar errors in the future.
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© 2014 Springer-Verlag London
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Hammerberg, E.M. (2014). Diagnostic Errors. In: Stahel, P., Mauffrey, C. (eds) Patient Safety in Surgery. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4369-7_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4369-7_4
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