Table 1

Definitions

Medical error
The failure of a planned action to be completed as intended or the use of a wrong plan to achieve an aim [2].
Medication error
Any error in the medication process, whether there are adverse consequences or not [10].
Adverse drug event
Any injury related to the use of a drug [77]. Not all adverse drug events are caused by medical error, nor do all medication errors result in an adverse drug event [26].
Preventable adverse event
Harm that could be avoided through reasonable planning or proper execution of an action [6].
Near miss
The occurrence of an error that did not result in harm [6].
Slip
A failure to execute an action due to a routine behavior being misdirected [17].
Lapse
A failure to execute an action due to lapse in memory and a routine behavior being omitted [17].
Mistake
A knowledge-based error due to an incorrect thought process or analysis [17].
Error of omission
Failure to perform an appropriate action [6].
Error of commission
Performing an inappropriate action [6].

Moyen et al. Critical Care 2008 12:208   doi:10.1186/cc6813