Much of the public attention on the opioid-epidemic has been focused on the harm caused by prescription use and abuse of opioids. However, there is another facet that must be focused on: opioid-induced respiratory depression in clinical settings.
ECRI Institute has repeatedly issued warnings in its annual report on health technology hazards about undetected opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD). In ECRI’s 2017 report, ECRI ranked OIRD as the fourth greatest technology threat1, saying:
