The article discusses the importance of error management in both aviation and medicine, drawing parallels between the two fields. It highlights that aviation has developed standardized methods for investigating and analyzing errors, while medicine lacks such standardized approaches. The article emphasizes the need for systematic efforts to reduce the frequency and severity of adverse events in medicine by learning from aviation's error management strategies. It outlines the key components of error management in aviation, including the use of non-punitive incident reporting systems, crew resource management (CRM) training, and observational methodologies like the Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA). The article also discusses the application of these strategies to medicine, particularly in operating theatres, where similar challenges exist. It notes that while aviation has made significant progress in error management, medicine can benefit from adopting similar approaches. The article concludes that accepting the inevitability of error and the importance of reliable data on error and its management will allow systematic efforts to improve patient safety. It also highlights the need for further research and funding to implement these strategies in medicine.The article discusses the importance of error management in both aviation and medicine, drawing parallels between the two fields. It highlights that aviation has developed standardized methods for investigating and analyzing errors, while medicine lacks such standardized approaches. The article emphasizes the need for systematic efforts to reduce the frequency and severity of adverse events in medicine by learning from aviation's error management strategies. It outlines the key components of error management in aviation, including the use of non-punitive incident reporting systems, crew resource management (CRM) training, and observational methodologies like the Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA). The article also discusses the application of these strategies to medicine, particularly in operating theatres, where similar challenges exist. It notes that while aviation has made significant progress in error management, medicine can benefit from adopting similar approaches. The article concludes that accepting the inevitability of error and the importance of reliable data on error and its management will allow systematic efforts to improve patient safety. It also highlights the need for further research and funding to implement these strategies in medicine.