In recent decades, clinics and care facilities have evolved into highly complex healthcare organizations that are increasingly competing with one another. At the same time, they must economically ensure high-quality care for the population. The technical quality of medical care is very high. The risks lie with the human factor. Patient safety initiatives demonstrate that additional systematic efforts are needed to enhance the safety of both staff and patients. Requirements analyses and accident analyses show that professional competence is only a necessary condition for safe practice in medicine and nursing. What characteristics and skills must doctors and nursing staff truly possess or develop to ensure safety?.