The Institute of Medicine report on medical errors: Misunderstanding can do harm. Quality of Health Care in America Committee.

In December 1999, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released the report, "To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System."[1] The response was immediate and far-reaching. The report received near-saturation coverage in the media, and a public opinion poll found that 51% of the American public closely followed the coverage of medical errors.[2] Within 2 weeks of the release of the report, Congressional hearings on the issue began and the President directed the Quality Interagency Coordination Task Force (QuIC) to evaluate the IOM recommendations and respond with a strategy for reducing medical errors.[3] In February, the President endorsed virtually all of the IOM recommendations and the comprehensive strategy for improving patient safety developed by the QuIC. (September 19, 2000)