2ⁿᵈ Edition of the Cancer R&D World Conference 2026

Abstract

Background

Medical errors remain a significant threat to the quality of healthcare, the third leading cause of death in America, about 1 in every 14 hospital patients. Categorization and appropriate preventive measures are of paramount significance.

Method

A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed and selected media sources. We categorized and analyzed them based on their frequency of occurrence. This review was conducted by experienced clinical researchers representing both Asian and North American cultural backgrounds.

Results

Communication is the most frequent pitfall leading to such occurrences. Physician burnout is another significant factor contributing to medical errors and vice versa. Incomprehensive verbal/nonverbal communication affecting interpretation of order, along with poor clinical judgement and lack of resources, a lack of awareness of patient’s past medical history and expressed concerns are contributory factors.

Wrong prescription in terms of drug type, dosing, timing and frequency compromise patient safety and the overall quality of healthcare. affect safe healthcare of patients. Drug allergy remains a contributing factor in therapeutic errors, particularly when medications have similar pronunciations. For example, "azithromycin" was mistakenly written on the wristband of an elderly patient by a busy emergency room triage nurse, though the actual allergy was to erythromycin. This error was only discovered later by a literate family member.

Physician burnout due to a shortage of resources and long shifts has end up in actual harm or near misses in multiple incidences. On the other hand, physicians themselves can become “second victims” after committing errors, suffering profound emotional distress including anxiety, guilt, and depression, also to the level where it might resemble PTSD symptoms, which may impair their clinical performance. A study conducted among 125 medical residents in the U.S. found that 86.5% had subsequent emotional disturbances, most commonly guilt, anxiety, and insomnia following medical errors. However, only 24.3% of these residents received any emotional support. Also, the fear of impending legal action affects them further, which adds to their psychological burden, exacerbating stress and contributing to burnout.

Strategies such as clearly Defining the chain of communication, involving patients and caregivers’ carers for their concerns, double checking at all stages of patient care seem to be the solution for preventing such occurrences. An elaborate documentation using color codes where necessary, legible writing and clearly typed detailed typing orders can further minimize medical errors.

Supporting physicians both physically and mentally can contribute to their cognitive and overall well-being which can lessen the risk of poor clinical judgement. Fostering a culture of learning, transparency, and continuous improvement in safe healthcare delivery—rather than one rooted in blame, shame, or the threat of legal action—offers greater overall benefits. Such a culture encourages openly reporting near misses and adverse events, facilitates collaborative problem-solving, and promotes resilience among healthcare professionals.

Conclusion

Guidelines for investigating medical errors, conducting timely risk assessment, and performing root cause analysis are modern solutions for addressing pitfalls in safe and effective healthcare delivery. These practices allow institutions to systematically identify vulnerabilities within clinical workflows and address the underlying causes of medical errors, rather than focusing solely on individual mistakes. Investing in software for incident reporting and analysis may be the most practical and tangible approach.