``Profit by Safety'' or Quackery in Biomedical Information Technology?

  • Authors:
  • Bas A. de Mol;Floor Koornneef

  • Affiliations:
  • -;-

  • Venue:
  • SAFECOMP '98 Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computer Safety, Reliability and Security
  • Year:
  • 1998

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Abstract

A Dutch painting "The Quack" helps to clarify from different user perspectives the risks involved in the application of today's medical systems in a major hospital. The liability due to unsafe medical equipment and implants not only represents the application risks for patients, but also viability threats to health care providers and manufacturers of medical devices. Safety and credibility of equipment contribute largely to the credibility of modern medicine. Legislation and government actions are not sufficient to make drugs, medical devices and medical procedures adequately safe. Lessons from device failure constitute the challenge to users and creators of dependable systems to combine forces and make things better, or keep the quack alive.