PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Vinay Prasad TI - Reclaiming the morbidity and mortality conference: between Codman and Kundera AID - 10.1136/jmh.2010.003848 DP - 2010 Dec 01 TA - Medical Humanities PG - 108--111 VI - 36 IP - 2 4099 - http://mh.bmj.com/content/36/2/108.short 4100 - http://mh.bmj.com/content/36/2/108.full SO - J Med Humanit2010 Dec 01; 36 AB - In recent years, a number of commentators have voiced unease about the direction and format of the Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) conference. Drawing on historical, literary and philosophical perspectives, and detailing the recent shift towards incorporating systems-based approaches to healthcare safety into the M&M, this article explores the nature and purpose of the M&M conference. It is argued that improving future health outcomes is insufficient as the goal of the conference. Instead, transcending hubris should be an endorsed objective. This paper aims to provide a definition and philosophical framework for the M&M conference.