Critical Bias in Critical Care Devices

Critical care data contain information about the most physiologically fragile patients in the hospital, who require a significant level of monitoring. However, medical devices used for patient monitoring suffer from measurement biases that have been largely underreported. This article explores sources of bias in commonly used clinical devices, including pulse oximeters, thermometers, and sphygmomanometers. Further, it provides a framework for mitigating these biases and key principles to achieve more equitable health care delivery.