Many entering the medical profession are perfectionists, unaccustomed to making serious mistakes.1 Medical errors, however, are inevitable and multifactorial.2 We fear errors due to the cost to our patients and our professional careers. We pledge to do no harm, but no practitioner is infallible. How we manage mistakes can shape our careers, especially when our first error occurs.
At each level of new responsibility, there is a transition to independent decision making that can be daunting and breed insecurity. With that insecurity, confronting near-misses and errors may feel personal, especially during the processes of closely examining the decisions that led to the mistake. This may build throughout a career, leading to burnout. Demystifying medical errors and creating a culture that allows for growth leads to best practices for patients and healthier clinicians.