Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
In his highly cited BMJ article [1] (6222 citations, Google Scholar accessed 16.09hrs 22/10/2019) James Reason noted, ‘Although some unsafe acts in any sphere are egregious, the vast majority are not. In aviation maintenance—a hands-on activity similar to medical practice in many respects—some 90% of quality lapses were judged as blameless,’ attributing the finding to David Marx. [2]
We seek clarification as the cited article, 2, does not appear to make the claim. On further reading of the journal ‘Ground Effects’, we were unable to find the statement in other articles by the same author. [2-6]
1. Reason J. Human error: models and management. BMJ 2000;320(7237):768-70. doi: 10.1136/bmj.320.7237.768
2. Marx D. Discipline: The Role of Rule Violations. Ground Effects 1997;2(4):1-4.
3. Marx D. Imagine if you will...a Human Reliability Program. Ground Effects 1996;1(2):5-7.
4. Marx D. Putting Aviation Safety First: Developing an Effective Disciplinary System. Ground Effects 1997;2(2):4-11.
5. Marx D. Discipline: The Importance of Mens Rea. Ground Effects 1997;2(3):1-4.
6. Marx D. Discipline: Why Process Is More Important than Outcome. Ground Effects 1997;2(5):2-6.
Re: Human error: models and management
In his highly cited BMJ article [1] (6222 citations, Google Scholar accessed 16.09hrs 22/10/2019) James Reason noted, ‘Although some unsafe acts in any sphere are egregious, the vast majority are not. In aviation maintenance—a hands-on activity similar to medical practice in many respects—some 90% of quality lapses were judged as blameless,’ attributing the finding to David Marx. [2]
We seek clarification as the cited article, 2, does not appear to make the claim. On further reading of the journal ‘Ground Effects’, we were unable to find the statement in other articles by the same author. [2-6]
1. Reason J. Human error: models and management. BMJ 2000;320(7237):768-70. doi: 10.1136/bmj.320.7237.768
2. Marx D. Discipline: The Role of Rule Violations. Ground Effects 1997;2(4):1-4.
3. Marx D. Imagine if you will...a Human Reliability Program. Ground Effects 1996;1(2):5-7.
4. Marx D. Putting Aviation Safety First: Developing an Effective Disciplinary System. Ground Effects 1997;2(2):4-11.
5. Marx D. Discipline: The Importance of Mens Rea. Ground Effects 1997;2(3):1-4.
6. Marx D. Discipline: Why Process Is More Important than Outcome. Ground Effects 1997;2(5):2-6.
Competing interests: No competing interests