104: Why good doctors make mistakes: The truth about human error in medicine

Hello Doctor Humans 💛I'm so excited to bring you today’s conversation with Dr. Scott Santinon. Scott is an ICU doctor, human factors expert, and founder of Critical Condition. This discussion challenged me to think differently about what it means to be a doctor and what we actually need in order to do our best work.Together, we explore one of the most important and often overlooked topics in medicine: human error. We talk about why mistakes happen, why healthcare places so much responsibility on individual clinicians, and how our culture often rewards things that our brains simply aren't designed to be good at. Scott shares fascinating insights into cognitive load, working memory, patient safety, and the role that both technology and system design can play in helping us care for patients more safely.If you've ever carried the weight of a mistake, questioned yourself after a difficult clinical decision, or felt overwhelmed by the demands of medicine, I think you'll get a lot out of this conversation.KEY POINTSHuman error is inevitable and not a personal failing.Clinicians face the same cognitive limitations as everyone else, regardless of experience or seniority.Fatigue, interruptions, stress, and workload can significantly affect performance.Many medical errors are influenced by system design, not just individual decisions.Healthcare often focuses on training and policies while overlooking underlying system issues.Human factors science helps create safer systems that work with, rather than against, human limitations.Technology and decision-support tools can reduce cognitive burden and support better care.Great doctors don't rely on perfect memory—they combine knowledge, experience, judgment, and human connection.Supporting clinicians requires better systems, not just asking individuals to be more resilient.We'd love to hear from you: What's your biggest takeaway from this conversation? Have you ever experienced cognitive overload or carried the weight of a mistake that felt deeply personal?Let us know in the comments, and if this episode spoke to you, please share it with your fellow Doctor Humans. The more openly we talk about these realities, the better we can support each other and the patients who trust us with their care. 💛Connect with Scott Santinon Follow Scott on LinkedIn for insights on human factors, cognitive load, and safer clinical practice. https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-santinon-09b33339/Explore Scott’s Innovative Tools Game-changing clinical apps including cardiac arrest support, ABGs, hyponatraemia and more https://criticalcondition.com.au/💜 Work with Dr BeccInside Dare, Darling, Becc helps doctors become truly UNSHAKEABLE.◽️ Apply for a free consult: https://2ly.link/27dxL 💌 Want FREE 1-line mindset upgrades every M/W/F to make you more UNSHAKEABLE? 💌 Just drop your email here: https://2ly.link/27dxJ 📚 Study with KristeenIf you’re preparing for physician exams — or just want to truly understand immunology & renal medicine — start here.  Kristeen’s FREE 7-Day GN Kick-Start Challenge gives you the clarity you wish someone handed you years ago.👉Grab Your FREE Tutorials: https://linkly.link/2R0lh More study tools coming soon.🔗 Hang out with Kristeen & Becc on socials 🌎📽 Kristeen’s YouTube: https://2ly.link/27faR  👋 Kristeen’s Instagram: https://2ly.link/27faF 📽 Becc’s YouTube: https://2ly.link/27faP 👋 Becc’s Instagram: https://linkly.link/2FUkz