Usama Bin Ghaffar 1 , Syed Meraj Ahmed 2 , Ali Faraz
BACKGROUND Medical error is a continuing global phenomenon. It represents an important public health problem that poses a serious threat to patient safety. Since the time when doctors had been blindly trusted for their clinical acumen, in recent times most of them have been frequently questioned on all aspects of patients’ care clearly indicating that in certain circumstances, even their motives are not beyond reproach. OBJECTIVE To assess the frequency of the medical errors and to devise workable solutions and prevention strategies in Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY This paper critically reviews the literature on medical error, data compiled from Medico-Legal Committee (MLC) of Ministry of Health (MOH) portal, of different regions of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to identify key sources of errors in primary care. CONCLUSION A critical approach to bringing wide ranging changes in medical education, communication skills and evidence based practice that can reduce the risk of errors and adverse outcomes in patient care. There is a growing public perception that serious medical error is commonplace and largely tolerased by the medical profession. The Government and Medical establishments’ response to this perceived epidemic of error has included tighter controls over practicing doctors and individual stick-and-carrot reforms of medical practice. There is a growing public perception that serious medical error is commonplace and largely tolerated by the medical profession
