A call to arms. No better phrase exists to describe the contents of this issue than a call to arms--both a bulletin and an invitation that raises awareness, attention, and action. Whether the problem is about adverse clinical events, the staggering number of uninsured, or the language barriers faced by patients with limited English proficiency, each feature in this issue sends a thoughtful and timely message.

In the interview, Dr. Lucian Leape, a leading advocate of the patient safety movement, reminds us of an elemental yet potent cause-and-effect in healthcare: "If the first objective is production, then safety is always second." A pediatric surgeon turned policymaker, ...