Iatrogenic illness. An overview with particular reference to neurologic complications

Neurologic illness relating to health care delivery has been increasingly described since the 1960's, primarily in the general medical literature. Iatrogenic neurologic complications have either been defined generically in terms of consequences of particular therapeutic or diagnostic approaches, or have been delineated with reference to more specific and serious complications such as intracerebral hemorrhage. In these reports, little attempt has been made to situate iatrogenic neurologic complications, either historically or conceptually, within the larger framework of medically related harms. Moreover, in this literature, few suggestions have been provided with regard to strategies to reduce such complications. The objective of the present review is to place the problem of iatrogenic neurologic complications within a larger historical and conceptual framework, as well as to provide suggestions for limiting such injuries.