Case Study | The Therac-25 Tragedy: Software Errors Led to Fatal Overdoses | Medical Software Course

In this lesson, we delve into the infamous Therac-25 case study, a sobering example of how medical software development can go catastrophically wrong. We will explore the series of software failures in a radiation therapy machine that led to multiple patient injuries and deaths from massive radiation overdoses, highlighting critical issues in design, testing, user interface, and the manufacturer's response, ultimately shaping modern medical device regulations. 🎯 Learning Objectives • Understand the critical role of software in medical device safety and the potential for catastrophic failure • Analyze the specific technical and procedural failures that led to the Therac-25 radiation overdose incidents • Identify the organizational and regulatory shortcomings in the response to early complaints and incidents • Explain how the Therac-25 case study significantly impacted medical device development, testing, and regulatory processes