This unique compendium of case studies on patient safety - told from the perspective of the patient and family - illustrates 24 stories of preventable health care errors that led to irreparable patient harm. The reader is guided through a structured analysis of the events, eliciting lessons learned and strategies for preventing similar events in the future. Learning objectives for each case facilitate the reader's development of a set of core competencies related to improving safety and quality of health care. Students of the health professions including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, health administration, public health, as well as practicing professionals such as patient safety officers, chief quality officers, risk managers, and health service researchers will gain valuable insight into the real-world of medical errors and a better understanding of how they can be prevented through practical, actionable methods.