Editorial: Patient Safety a 'Right or Privilege'

Abstract

Is Patient Safety a 'Right or a Privilege'? The intention while treating patients is always to “do no harm” and yet, it does not always turn out that way. Healthcare interventions are meant to benefit people and promote wellness; unfortunately many times they
present a risk of harm. Patients still suffer from wrong treatment or medications, preventable falls in hospitals, hospital acquired infections and many other events that are harmful. An international report published in 2018, reported that 1/10 of all patients suffer preventable adverse events, two decades after The Institute of Medicine found that 98,000 people die in hospitals in the US each year because of medical errors that could have been prevented.............................................