The ethical leadership challenge to do no harm: the cognitive imperative

In hospitals across the United States, there is a growing epidemic of unprecedented proportions. This epidemic is the rising number of deaths caused by medical errors. Deaths due to medical errors are a leading cause of deaths in the hospital setting. These errors are attributable to human error. Health care managers and leaders must gain knowledge of how cognition is related to human error. With this knowledge, health care managers and leaders will have a better understanding of how cognition is the primary cause of human error in the hospital setting. This article addresses and evaluates the different components of cognition and provides recommendations to reduce human error and thereby deaths in hospitals.