Watch the full episode and view show notes here: https://bit.ly/3MeWnS2 Become a member to receive exclusive content: https://bit.ly/3MfBqGm Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://bit.ly/4c602k2 Marty Makary is a surgeon, public policy researcher, and author of the New York times best-sellers Unaccountable and The Price We Pay. In this episode, Marty dives deep into the topic of patient safety. He describes the risk of medical errors that patients face when they walk into the hospital and how those errors take place, and he highlights what amounts to an epidemic of medical mistakes. He explains how the culture of patient safety has advanced in recent decades, the specific improvements driven by a patient safety movement, and what’s holding back further progress. The second half of this episode discusses the high-profile case of RaDonda Vaught, a nurse at Vanderbilt Hospital convicted of negligent homicide after she mistakenly gave a patient the wrong medication in 2017. He discusses the fallout from this case and how it has in some ways unraveled decades of progress in patient safety. Furthermore, Marty provides insights in how to advocate for a loved one in the hospital, details the changes needed to meaningfully reduce the death rate from medical errors, and provides a hopeful vision for future improvements to patient safety. We discuss: -Intro [0:00:00] -Brief history of patient safety, preventable medical mistakes, and catalysts for major changes to patient safety protocols [3:00]; -Advancements in patient safety and the dramatic reduction in central line infections [16:45]; -A surgical safety checklist—a major milestone in patient safety [26:00]; -A tragic case stimulates a culture of speaking up about concerns among surgical teams [28:00]; -Studies showing the ubiquitous nature of medical mistakes leading to patient death [32:30]; -The medical mistake of over-prescribing of opioids [36:30]; -Other types of errors—electronic medical records, nosocomial infections, and more [38:00]; -Importance of honesty from physicians and what really drives malpractice claims [43:15]; -A high-profile medical mistake case involving nurse RaDonda Vaught [50:15]; -Investigations leading to the arrest of RaDonda Vaught [1:02:30]; -Vaught’s trial—a charge of “negligent homicide” [1:08:00]; -A guilty charge and an outpouring of support for Vaught [1:15:00]; -Concerns from the nursing profession over the RaDonda Vaught conviction [1:21:00]; -How to advocate for a friend or family member in the hospital [1:23:15]; -Changes needed for meaningful reduction in the death rate from medical errors [1:29:30]; -Blind spots in our current national funding mechanism and the need for more research into patient safety [1:34:30]; -Parting thoughts—where do we go from here? [1:38:30]; -More. -------- About: The Peter Attia Drive is a weekly, ultra-deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing health, longevity, critical thinking…and a few other things. With over 40 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including fasting, ketosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more. Peter is a physician focusing on the applied science of longevity. His practice deals extensively with nutritional interventions, exercise physiology, sleep physiology, emotional and mental health, and pharmacology to increase lifespan (delay the onset of chronic disease), while simultaneously improving healthspan (quality of life). Learn more: https://bit.ly/3MiNOFz Connect with Peter on: Facebook: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDTW Instagram: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDIG Subscribe to The Drive: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveApplePodcasts Overcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveOvercast Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheDriveSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheDriveGoogle Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they have, and they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. I take conflicts of interest very seriously. For all of my disclosures and the companies I invest in or advise, please visit my website where I keep an up-to-date and active list of such companies.