General
m & ms
What does m & ms mean?
Standard hospital shorthand for the Mortality and Morbidity conference — the regular meeting where a department reviews deaths, complications and near-misses. Officially educational, often brutal. The candy-bar nickname softens what is, for the doctor presenting, one of the worst hours of the month.
"I'm presenting that bowel perf at M and Ms on Thursday — wish me luck."
Origin
American surgical tradition formalised by Ernest Codman in the early 20th century; the nickname is universal across English-speaking hospitals.
Frequently asked questions
What does M & Ms mean in a medical setting?
It's short for a Mortality and Morbidity conference — the meeting where a medical team dissects what went wrong in a case.
What happens at an M & Ms conference?
The team reviews cases involving complications or deaths to understand what went wrong and how to improve care.
How do you use M & Ms in a sentence?
"That complication is definitely going to get presented at M & Ms next week."
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