iatrogenic
Caused by treatment
Iatrogenic describes illness, injury, or complications caused by medical treatment itself.
A patient develops an iatrogenic infection from a hospital stay, or suffers iatrogenic harm from a drug's side effects.
The term is clinical rather than accusatory—it identifies the source of a problem without necessarily implying negligence: The rash was iatrogenic, a reaction to the antibiotic.
Harmful professional negligence
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- errorFault in communication
- medical errorPreventable healthcare mistake
- mistakeWrong action or decision
oversight · lawsuit · litigation · informed consent · disclosure · reporting · patient safety · quality improvement
Harmful or opposed
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- unintendedNot done on purpose
- harmfulCausing damage or injury
- injuryPhysical or psychological harm
damage · side effect · drug reaction · allergic reaction · toxicity · interaction · overdose · contraindication
Originating within medical facilities
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
- medication errorIncorrect drug administration
- misdiagnosisIncorrect identification of ailment
overprescription · polypharmacy · overtreatment · unnecessary surgery · radiation exposure · antibiotic resistance · bedsore · fall
malpractice
Harmful professional negligence
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- errorFault in communication
- medical errorPreventable healthcare mistake
mistake · oversight · lawsuit · litigation · informed consent · disclosure · reporting · patient safety · quality improvement · apology
adverse
Harmful or opposed
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- unintendedNot done on purpose
- harmfulCausing damage or injury
injury · damage · side effect · drug reaction · allergic reaction · toxicity · interaction · overdose · contraindication · postoperative
hospital-acquired
Originating within medical facilities
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
- medication errorIncorrect drug administration
misdiagnosis · overprescription · polypharmacy · overtreatment · unnecessary surgery · radiation exposure · antibiotic resistance · bedsore · fall
iatrogenicspontaneous
Arising without external cause
endogenous · congenital · hereditary · genetic · innate
iatrogenictherapeutic
Promoting healing or wellness
curative · healing · beneficial · remedial · salutary