Patient Safety and Quality of Care in Intensive Care Medicine

Book excerpt: "The maxim "Primum non nocere" is almost as old as the practice of medicine. In combination with the principles of beneficence, autonomy and justice, and whilst keeping in mind the confidence and dignity of the patient, it should constitute the basis of our behaviours as physicians and nurses. Since diagnostic and therapeutic interventions have become more complex and their risk/benefit ratios more difficult to assess, the importance of safety and quality of care rises. Avoiding the infliction of harm on our patients has moved into the focus of clinical medicine"--Publisher's description.