Selected medical errors in the intensive care unit: results of the IATROREF study: parts I and II.

Rationale: Although intensive care units (ICUs) were created for patients with life-threatening illnesses, the ICU environment generates a high risk of iatrogenic events. Identifying medical errors (MEs) that serve as indicators for iatrogenic risk is crucial for purposes of reporting and prevention.

Objectives: We describe the selection of indicator MEs, the incidence of such MEs, and their relationship with mortality.