HUMAN ERRORS

Human errors are possibilities that occur contantly. Weather one is a physicain, attorney, or lay person. Outright mistakes are not human errors. They are the result of carelessness, unconcern, personal needs, or perhaps even the belief in myths.

Has the art of making distinctions been discarded to serve personal needs? Myths will come and go, depending on societal attitudes. We cannot change that. We can, however, try to be more discerning about them, especially when knowing how destructive they can be. Being aware of this characteristic, which many of us possess to some degree, is a major step in the right direction. Going beyond this can yield insights into the reasons for many modern dilemmas in the daily lives of lay people as well as professionals.

Myths often change through time and circumstances, but not always. Some serious ones, like medical myths about women's health, and invsible injuries such as concussions and closed head injuries, are prime examples of myths which are taking a long time to be resolved.

In modern times, opinions; non-verifiable or verifiable, containing a "grain of truth," repeated, heard or read often enough in newspapers, columns, television and Internet, start the planting of a myth. Often these myths are embellished in the retelling. Inevitably, that grain of truth, or half lie, sprouts like all seeds do, no matter how inaccurate they reproduce themselves as truths.