Perspectives

Inattentional Blindness as an Underappreciated Emphasis in Patient Safety Education: Need for Greater Recognition in Medical and Surgical Training

Authors: Michael J. Asken, PhD, Anas Atrash, MD, Evelyn J. Calderon Martinez, MD

Abstract

Attention and perception are essential cognitive processes in medical and surgical practice and training. They also are complex processes that are subject to distortion or failure from many different sources. When there is an admonishment of “How could you miss that?,” it is often assumed, at worst, to be the result of laziness and, at best, fatigue or work overload. Any of these factors can impact patient care and lead to serious oversights.

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