Human factors are main cause of errors in veterinary practice

Human error is the largest single cause of mistakes made by veterinary surgeons when treating patients, new research by The University of Nottingham has revealed. The study, published in the academic journal The Veterinary Record, found that the majority of errors were caused by the limitations of memory and attention leading to slips, lapses and mistakes that can occur when distracted or under stress. The research, led by academics in the University's School of Veterinary Medicine and Science and School of Psychology, supports the need for the development and implementation of interventions similar to those which protect patients in human medicine, such as the World Health Organisation's safe surgery checklist. Lead researcher Catherine Oxtoby said: "I hope this paper will shine some light on a difficult and sensitive subject in the profession. The vast majority of veterinary surgeons and nurses are dedicated, compassionate people who care deeply about both their patients and their clients, but they are also human beings and occasionally make harmful mistakes. "We have to understand that mistakes don't happen because someone was being careless - it's much more complicated than that, and blaming the clinician does nothing to prevent it happening again. What we need are simple tools to support clinicians and help reduce mistakes.