close call

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A popular term for a serious medical error that does not result in harm to the patient

close call

Medtalk A popular term for a serious medical error that does not result in harm to the Pt. See Medical error.

References in classic literature ?

A savage growl close behind him apprised Tarzan of the nearness of Taug, and the fact that the bull had heard the warnings and threats of his mate and was coming to her succor.

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When he saw her close enough to touch it, Oolanga stepped forward from his concealment, and spoke in a whisper, which through the gloom sounded like a hiss.

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He turned and ran toward it, shouting an alarm to his wife to run in and close the great door in case the ape cut off his retreat.

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"I thank you, Captain, I shall use my own steed, which is waiting for me close at hand."

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One of Kovudoo's men leaned close to the ear of his chief.

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Turjun, the panthan, crept close to the companionway, his sinuous fingers closing tightly upon the hilt of his dagger.

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The other thing was that if they did not pull it down for a few minutes it would have completed its circle and returned close to where I stood.

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"And now come in and see my study--we shall have just time before dinner; and afterwards, before calling over, we'll do the close."

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Downward and downward the hideous apparition made its slow progress, until it stopped close over Agnes--stopped, and turned slowly, so that the face of it confronted the upturned face of the woman in the chair.

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Thuvia and Phaidor came close also, but when Thuvia saw that we would be alone she withdrew to the further side of the chamber.

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There was now but another door which they had not tried, and this they approached quickly as they knew that the searching party must be close to the chamber.

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He noticed, however, that Akut kept always close to him, and was often looking at him with a strange wonder in his little bloodshot eyes, and once he did a thing that Tarzan during all his long years among the apes had never before seen an ape do--he found a particularly tender morsel and handed it to Tarzan.