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What the COVID-19 Pandemic Teaches Us About Pediatric Iatrogenic Risk
Katherine Pumphrey1, Jessica Hart2
1Pediatric hospital medicine fellow at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.
AMA Journal of Ethics
|February 8, 2023
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted risks of iatrogenic harm in pediatrics. Healthcare system changes and diagnostic uncertainty increased these risks for children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Public Health
- Healthcare Systems Analysis
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- Iatrogenic morbidity and mortality represent significant pediatric public health concerns.
- The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges to healthcare delivery.
- Pediatric healthcare systems faced disruptions including closures, staffing shortages, and evolving infection control protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated iatrogenic risks in pediatric care.
- To analyze the impact of pandemic-related healthcare system changes on patient safety.
- To understand the role of diagnostic uncertainty in iatrogenic events during the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of clinical practice changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Review of literature on iatrogenic events in pediatric populations.
- Case study analysis of diagnostic uncertainty and system disruptions.
Main Results:
- The pandemic amplified diagnostic uncertainty, potentially leading to delayed or incorrect diagnoses.
- Disruptions in pediatric healthcare systems increased the likelihood of medical errors.
- New infection control guidelines, while necessary, added complexity to patient care.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 pandemic served as a critical lens, revealing and intensifying iatrogenic risks in pediatrics.
- Addressing systemic vulnerabilities in pediatric healthcare is crucial for mitigating future iatrogenic harm.
- Enhanced strategies for diagnostic support and resilient healthcare systems are needed to protect pediatric patients.
Abstract:
Iatrogenic morbidity and mortality are pediatric public health risks. This article considers how the COVID-19 pandemic illuminates these risks, as clinicians have been forced to navigate increased diagnostic uncertainty and changes to pediatric health care systems, including closures, limited staffing, and new infection control guidelines.
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