What significant phrase describes a common outcome scenario in health care that E.A. Codman raised awareness about?

The phrase "The operation was a success but the patient died" highlights a critical concern in healthcare quality and management that E.A. Codman emphasized: the need for accountability and comprehensive evaluation of outcomes. Codman advocated for tracking not just the technical success of procedures but also the overall results for the patient, including mortality and long-term effects.

This phrase encapsulates the idea that a procedure can be deemed clinically successful based on immediate technical criteria, but if the patient still suffers a poor outcome, such as death, the success must be questioned. This reflection leads to a more robust evaluation of healthcare practices and outcomes, pushing for a system that prioritizes not only the metrics of success but also patient safety and quality of care. Codman's work underscored the importance of post-operative outcomes in assessing the true effectiveness of medical interventions, urging healthcare providers to take a holistic view of patient management and care outcomes.