Human factors are main cause of errors in veterinary practice

Human error is the largest single cause of mistakes made by veterinary surgeons when treating patients, new research by The University of Nottingham has revealed.

The study, published in the academic journal The Veterinary Record, found that the majority of errors were caused by the limitations of memory and attention leading to slips, lapses and mistakes that can occur when distracted or under stress.

The research, led by academics in the University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science and School of Psychology, supports the need for the development and implementation of interventions similar to those which protect patients in human medicine, such as the World Health Organisation’s safe surgery checklist.

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More information is available from Mrs Catherine Oxtoby in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Nottingham on +44 (0)790 957 4480, svxco1@nottingham.ac.uk