In United States safety standards, precautionary statements are sentences providing information on potential hazards, and proper procedures. They are used in situations from consumer product on labels and manuals, to descriptions of physical activities. Various methods are used to bring focus to them, such as setting apart from normal text, graphic icons, changes in text's font and color. Texts will often clarify the types of statements and their meanings within the text. Common precautionary statements are described below.

In medicine, an adverse effect is a harmful and undesired effect resulting from a medication or other intervention such as surgery. An adverse effect may be termed a "side effect", when judged to be secondary to a main or therapeutic effect, and may result from an unsuitable or incorrect dosage or procedure, which could be due to medical error. Adverse effects are sometimes referred to as "iatrogenic" because they are generated by a physician/treatment. Some adverse effects only occur only when starting, increasing or discontinuing a treatment. Using a drug or other medical intervention which is contraindicated may increase the risk of adverse effects. Adverse effects may cause medical complications of a disease or procedure and negatively affect its prognosis. They may also lead to non-compliance with a treatment regimen. The harmful outcome is usually indicated by some result such as morbidity, mortality, alteration in body weight, levels of enzymes, loss of function, or as a pathological change detected at the microscopic, macroscopic or physiological level. It may also be indicated by symptoms reported by a patient. Adverse effects may cause a reversible or irreversible change, including an increase or decrease in the susceptibility of the individual to other chemicals, foods, or procedures, such as drug interactions. In clinical trials, a distinction is made between adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). Generally, any event which causes death, permanent damage, birth defects, or requires hospitalization is considered an SAE.[1] The results of these trials are often included in the labeling of the medication to provide information both for patients and the prescribing physicians.

Kontraindikacija je stanje ili čimbenik koji govori protiv neke mjere. Najčešće se koristi u medicini u odnosu na čimbenike koji povećavaju rizik uključen u uzimanje nekog lijeka, provedbu medicinskih postupaka ili provedbu određenih aktivnosti. Neke kontraindikacije su apsolutne, što znači da ni pod kojim uvjetima ne treba poduzeti neka djelovanja. Na primjer, dojenčetu s visokom temperaturom nikad se ne smije dati aspirin radi rizika od Reyeovog sindroma, a osoba s anafilaktičkom alergijom na hranu nikad ne smije jesti hranu na koju je alergična. Slično, osoba s hemokromatozom ne smije primiti preparate željeza. Druge kontraindikacije su relativne, što znači da pacijent ima veći rizik od komplikacija, ali taj rizik mogu nadvladati druga razmatranja ili se može smanjiti drugim mjerama. Na primjer, trudnica treba izbjegavati X- zrake, ali rizik može biti puno manji nego rizik od nedijagnosticiranja ili liječenja opasnih stanja kao što su tuberkuloza ili slomljena kost. Relativne kontraindikacije mogu se odnositi i na upozorenja, kao što je British National Formulary.

An intraocular lens (IOL) is an implanted lens in the eye, usually replacing the existing crystalline lens because it has been clouded over by a cataract, or as a form of refractive surgery to change the eye's optical power. It usually consists of a small plastic lens with plastic side struts, called haptics, to hold the lens in place within the capsular bag inside the eye.[citation needed] IOLs were traditionally made of an inflexible material (PMMA), although this has largely been superseded by the use of flexible materials. Most IOLs fitted today are fixed monofocal lenses matched to distance vision. However, other types are available, such as multifocal IOLs which provide the patient with multiple-focused vision at far and reading distance, and adaptive IOLs which provide the patient with limited visual accommodation.

description a statement presenting something in words, from verb describe

"a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it" Essential Requirements - Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC - Annex I, 13.1: Each device must be accompanied by the information needed to use it safely and to identify the manufacturer, taking account of the training and knowledge of the potential user. This information comprises the details on the label and the data in the instructions for use. As far as practicable and appropriate, the information needed to use the device safely must be set out on the device itself and/or on the packaging of each unit. If not practicable, the information must be set out in the leaflet supplied with one or more devices. Instructions for use must be included in the packaging for every device. By way of exception, no such instruction leaflet is needed for devices in Class I or Class IIa if they can be used completely safely without any such instructions.