Guest Editorial: The Dangerous Intersection Phenomenon: Why We Act Only After an Adverse Event.

Abstract

Every town has one — that dangerous intersection everyone talks about. Vehicles speed past it every day, drivers aware of its risk but cautious only after a serious accident occurs. In anaesthesia, we have many such intersections — places where danger is recognised but not addressed until an adverse event forces our attention. Whether it is a missing monitor, a non-functioning alarm, or an unsafe practice normalized by routine, we often wait for harm to happen before initiating change. This “Dangerous Intersection Phenomenon” is not new — it reflects the gap between awareness and action that continues to challenge our profession. Anaesthesia history is filled with examples of safety advances born out of mishaps. The oxygen pipeline was colour-coded only after cross-connection accidents.