Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, 310 Cedar Street LH 108, PO Box 208023, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
Aptitude Health, Atlanta, GA, USA.
J Gen Intern Med. 2019 Oct;34(10):2264-2267. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05156-7. Epub 2019 Jul 10.
The exact number of patients in the USA who die from preventable medical errors each year is highly debated. Despite uncertainty in the underlying science, two very large estimates have spread rapidly through both the academic and popular media. We utilize Richard Dawkins' concept of the "meme" to explore why these imprecise estimates remain so compelling, and examine what potential harms can occur from their dissemination. We conclude by suggesting that instead of simply providing more precise estimates, physicians should encourage nuance in public medical error discussions, and strive to provide narrative context about the reality of the complex biological and social systems in which we practice medicine.
每年有多少美国患者死于可预防的医疗失误，这一确切数字存在很大争议。尽管相关科学尚不确定，但两个非常大的估计值迅速在学术和大众媒体中传播。我们利用理查德·道金斯（Richard Dawkins）的“模因”概念来探讨为什么这些不精确的估计值仍然如此引人注目，并研究它们传播可能带来的潜在危害。最后我们建议，医生们不应仅仅提供更精确的估计值，而应鼓励在公众对医疗失误的讨论中加入细微差别，并努力提供关于我们所实践的复杂生物和社会系统的现实情况的叙述性背景。
