iatrogenik

Iatrogenik, often rendered as iatrogenic in English, refers to harm or adverse effects caused by medical treatment, procedures, or advice rather than by the patient’s underlying disease. The term derives from Greek iatros (physician) and genesis (origin).

It encompasses a broad range of outcomes, including adverse drug reactions, surgical complications, anesthesia-related injuries, hospital-acquired infections, diagnostic or laboratory errors, and psychological or social harm linked to care. Not every negative outcome is iatrogenic; the concept distinguishes harm caused by medical actions from the illness's natural course.

Common examples include side effects from medications, radiation exposure from imaging, unnecessary procedures resulting from overdiagnosis, and preventable infections in hospital settings. Prevention emphasizes patient safety practices, informed consent, careful risk-benefit assessment, evidence-based prescribing, use of checklists, and systematic reporting of adverse events to learn and improve.

Iatrogenik is a major concern for health systems because it can increase morbidity and costs, undermine trust, and complicate treatment. Addressing iatrogenic harm involves ongoing training, safety culture, and balancing benefits and risks in medical decision making.