Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Ole Isacson: Development of New Therapies for Parkinson's Disease
Published on: April 29, 2007
To Err is Human: Can American Medicine Learn from Past Mistakes?
1Retired Chief of Cardiology of the Kaiser Richmond Medical Center; he is the Clinical Coordinator and Associate Professor in the Joint MSPAS/MPH Program at Touro University in Vallejo, CA. jeffritterman@gmail.com.
Abstract:
The history of medicine includes many errors. Some persisted for decades and caused great harm. Several are highlighted in this article, including the mythical thymic diseases: thymic asthma and status thymicolymphaticus. Some medical mistakes, such as the diet-heart hypothesis of Ancel Keys, continue to cause harm. To avoid future errors and their associated harm, I suggest a cultural shift encouraging professional humility and greater questioning of medical dogma. Medical education focused on teaching students this history may help with this cultural shift.
Related Concept Videos
Ethical Dilemmas II
Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring
Several factors...
Standards of Care I
Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Guidelines for Nursing Documentation I
Factual:
The following points emphasize the significance of upholding accurate and unbiased documentation in healthcare.

