Final answer:
Dr. David Bates advocates for a broader definition of harm that includes more than physical injury and looks at psychological, social, and ethical aspects in healthcare. This aligns with the personalized approach needed for effective healthcare and acknowledges the complex outcomes of medical treatments and procedures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some patient safety leaders, like Dr. David Bates, believe the definition of harm in healthcare should be broader than what is outlined in the IHI Global Trigger Tool because healthcare and patient experiences are vastly heterogeneous. A more expansive view on harm aligns with personalized medicine and acknowledges the multitude of ways patients can be affected by healthcare errors and practices. For instance, the Surgical Safety Checklist, developed by Dr. Gawande under WHO's guidance, led to a noticeable reduction in significant postsurgical complications and deaths by considering a broader range of potential issues rather than a narrow set of errors.
The concept of harm extends far beyond physical injury and may include psychological, social, or even ethical dimensions of healthcare. This broader view on harm considers the risks and experiences of each patient individually, rather than a 'one-size-fits-all' approach, as some treatments may be effective in one scenario but adverse in another. Moreover, evaluating what constitutes benefits versus harms in complex situations, like the deployment of medical equipment or adherence to protocols, requires a nuanced assessment that balances the probabilities and impacts of both positive and negative outcomes.