کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
---|---|---|---|---|
2730457 | 1147247 | 2010 | 5 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |
![عکس صفحه اول مقاله: Opioids, Iatrogenic Harm and Disclosure of Medical Error Opioids, Iatrogenic Harm and Disclosure of Medical Error](/preview/png/2730457.png)
The safety of patients in U.S. hospitals is a serious problem, with adverse events because of medical error affecting a significant proportion of hospitalized patients. Patients at the end of life are particularly vulnerable and are at risk of potential adverse events. This article presents a case in which opioids were rapidly titrated to neurotoxic doses in a patient who was terminally extubated. The patient was profoundly sedated and was noted to have Cheyne-Stokes breathing. The possibility of opioid-related iatrogenic harm is raised, and a discussion of what counts as medical error in these circumstances is explored. Palliative care specialists have a unique responsibility to provide guidance and establish a standard of care that clinicians should adhere to. Prevention of harm in dying patients should be a priority in the hospital setting.
Journal: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management - Volume 39, Issue 2, February 2010, Pages 309–313