Iatrogenicity ─ Causes and Consequences of Iatrogenesis in Cardiovascular Medicine

Iatrogenesis is the occurrence of untoward effects resulting from actions of health care providers, including medical errors, medical malpractice, practicing beyond one’s expertise, adverse effects of medication, unnecessary treatment, inappropriate screenings, and surgical errors. This is a huge public health issue: tens to hundreds of thousands of deaths are attributed to iatrogenic causes each year in the US, and vulnerable populations such as the elderly and minorities are particularly susceptible. 

Edited by two renowned cardiology experts, Iatrogenesis in Cardiovascular Medicine addresses both the iatrogenicity that arises with cardiovascular interventions, as well as non-cardiovascular interventions that result in adverse consequences on the cardiovascular system. The book aims to achieve three things: to summarize the available information on this topic in a single high-yield volume; to highlight the human and financial cost of iatrogenesis; and to describe and propose potential interventions to ameliorate the effects of iatrogenesis. This accessible book is a practical reference for any practicing physician who sees patients with cardiovascular issues. 

IHOR GUSSAK, MD, PhD, FACC, is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson, and executive editor of the Journal of Electrocardiology.

JOHN B. KOSTIS, MD, FACP, FACC, is the John G. Detwiler Professor of Cardiology, professor of medicine and pharmacology, and associate dean for cardiovascular research at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He is also the director of the Cardiovascular Institute at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey.