“The idea that it’s all systems and there are no individual performance differences is absurd.” A couple hundred thousand people a year die from preventable hospital errors and complications. It’s a massive problem. So what can you do? Start by selecting the right surgeon. Don’t settle for a butcher when you need a tailor. A ProPublica report on patient safety: Making the Cut.

+ Pacific Standard: “A rare condition causes Joel Salinas to experience other people’s emotions and sensations. Is mirror-touch synesthesia a superpower or a curse?”