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].