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Medical Errors MeSH Descriptor Data 2025


MeSH Heading
Medical Errors
Tree Number(s)
N02.421.450
Unique ID
D019300
RDF Unique Identifier
http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D019300
Annotation
coordinate with specific disease or procedure; do not confuse with MALPRACTICE
Scope Note
Errors or mistakes committed by health professionals which result in harm to the patient. They include errors in diagnosis (DIAGNOSTIC ERRORS), errors in the administration of drugs and other medications (MEDICATION ERRORS), errors in the performance of surgical procedures, in the use of other types of therapy, in the use of equipment, and in the interpretation of laboratory findings. Medical errors are differentiated from MALPRACTICE in that the former are regarded as honest mistakes or accidents while the latter is the result of negligence, reprehensible ignorance, or criminal intent.
Entry Version
MED ERR
Entry Term(s)
Critical Incidents, Medical
Critical Medical Incidents
Errors, Medical
Errors, Surgical
Medical Error of Commission
Medical Error of Omission
Medical Errors of Commission
Medical Errors of Omission
Medical Mistake
Medical Mistakes
Mistake, Medical
Mistakes, Medical
Never Event
Surgical Error
Surgical Errors
Wrong-Patient Surgery
Wrong-Procedure Errors
Wrong-Site Surgery
See Also
Iatrogenic Disease
Malpractice
Patient Harm
Public MeSH Note
97
History Note
97
Date Established
1997/01/01
Date of Entry
1996/06/10
Revision Date
2018/06/29
Medical Errors Preferred
Medical Errors of Omission Narrower
Medical Errors of Commission Narrower
Critical Medical Incidents Narrower
Wrong-Patient Surgery Narrower
Wrong-Procedure Errors Narrower
Wrong-Site Surgery Narrower
Surgical Errors Narrower
Never Event Narrower
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