Amnesia, Adverse Effects, and the Angel of History

Greene, Jeremy A. MD, PhD

¹Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland (J.A.G.)

Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M19-2528.

Corresponding Author: Jeremy A. Greene, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1900 East Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21205; e-mail, [email protected].

Annals of Internal Medicine 171(6):p 434-435, September 17, 2019. | DOI: 10.7326/M19-2528

In this issue, Leslie and colleagues compiled a disturbing tale of historical amnesia in which the neglect of 19th- and 20th-century information led to preventable adverse events in 21st-century patients. The editorialist discusses what paths we might take in drug development to ensure that we avoid repeated rediscovery of past harms.