Iatrogenic injuries are best described as complications resulting from medical treatment.

• A. Catheters, NG tubes, or tracheotomies
• B. Complications resulting from medical treatment
• C. Infections from the hospital
• D. Injuries due to the mechanism of injury

Answer: (B)

Iatrogenic injuries are harm produced by medical care. They are complications that arise as a result of treatment, procedures, medications, or devices used in patient care, meaning the injury is caused by the medical intervention itself. This broad category includes things like surgical injuries, adverse drug events, or device-related complications such as catheter- or ventilator-associated problems. That’s why describing iatrogenic injuries as complications resulting from medical treatment is the best fit. Infections acquired in the hospital are related to iatrogenic harm but represent only a subset, whereas injuries from the mechanism of injury refer to trauma from an external event, not medical care.