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For those who want to know what 'iatrogenic' means prior to dipping further into this thread: "Induced unintentionally in a patient by a physician. Used especi

For those who want to know what 'iatrogenic' means prior to dipping further into this thread: "Induced unintentionally in a patient by a physician. Used especially of an infection or other complication of treatment." Basically: is it causing the very thing the intervention is intended to help.

woodruffw 4y ago
At the risk of nitpicking: iatrogensis isn't confined to the very thing the intervention intends to address; it can be any condition induced at the cost of treatment. Blinding a patient during eye surgery to remove a tumor is an iatrogenic outcome, for example.
- narwally 4y ago
  Would that also include side affects from medications?
  - woodruffw 4y ago
    Yes. Iatrogenesis doesn't imply an overall negative outcome: livesaving medications and treatments can have iatrogenic consequences that are outweighed by their intended, positive ones (or vice versa).