Preventing Medical Mistakes

Preventing Medical Mistakes : "The patient may well be the one who can do the most to prevent many types of medical mistakes. As a patient, you have the time (and motivation) to double-check your diagnosis and medications, whereas the hurried medical staff do not have hours to spend on your case. Education can allow you to double-check your diagnosis, examine all possible treatments, check your medications for possible adverse events, and so on. Although you can't always prevent the slip of the scalpel in surgery or fully avoid a hospital-caused infection, you can at least be informed about the risks, and research the past record of your doctor and your hospital."
I like the emphasis placed on the importance of the patient's active participation in minimising medical mistakes.