The Therac-25: The Deadly Software Error

TLDRThe Therac-25 was a radiation therapy machine that caused multiple deaths due to a software error. It delivered high doses of radiation to patients, resulting in severe injuries and fatalities. The software malfunction allowed the machine to administer lethal doses without any warning to the operators or patients. The incidents led to a reevaluation of software safety in medical devices.

Key insights

😱The Therac-25 was a revolutionary radiation therapy machine that used software to control its operation.

💀Due to a software error, the Therac-25 delivered lethal doses of radiation to patients, resulting in severe injuries and fatalities.

🚨The software malfunction allowed the machine to administer high doses of radiation without any warning to the operators or patients.

🔍Investigations revealed that the software design and quality assurance processes of the Therac-25 were inadequate, leading to the deadly errors.

⚖️The incidents involving the Therac-25 sparked significant changes in medical device regulations and safety standards.

Q&A

What is the Therac-25?

—The Therac-25 was a radiation therapy machine used to treat cancer patients by delivering high-energy beams of radiation.

How did the software error in the Therac-25 cause fatalities?

—The software error in the Therac-25 allowed the machine to deliver lethal doses of radiation without any warning or safety interlocks.

Were the software errors in the Therac-25 preventable?

—Yes, the software errors in the Therac-25 were preventable. Investigations revealed inadequate software design and quality assurance processes.

How did the incidents involving the Therac-25 impact medical device regulations?

—The incidents involving the Therac-25 led to significant changes and stricter regulations in medical device design, software safety, and quality assurance.

Are there any lessons learned from the Therac-25 incidents?

—The Therac-25 incidents highlighted the importance of thorough software testing, systematic risk analysis, and effective communication between software engineers and medical professionals.

Timestamped Summary

00:00The Therac-25 was a radiation therapy machine that caused multiple deaths due to a software error.

09:31Voyn Ray Cox and Vernon Kidd were among the victims of the Therac-25 machine's software malfunction.

12:16The Therac-25 technician and physicist tried to recreate the malfunction and discovered the software error.

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