The prevention of medical errors has long been of concern to health professionals. While the public also reports concern over the issue, prevention of medical errors is not something that ranks highest in the public’s open-ended responses to questions about the top problems facing health care and medicine. While only 6% of the public say medical errors are one of the two main problems facing health care and medicine in the U.S., nearly four in ten (38%) say cost of health care, and about three in ten (31%) say cost of prescription drugs are among the top concerns.