Monitors: Are We Too Dependent on Them?

Monitoring has become an indispensable component of modern healthcare and is routinely used in emergency departments, operating theaters, intensive care units, postanesthesia care units, and high-dependency units. Basic monitoring modalities such as pulse oximetry (SpO 2 ), noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP), and electrocardiography form the foundation of contemporary patient surveillance and have significantly improved patient safety through the early detection of physiological deterioration and timely intervention. The transition from manual devices to automated multiparameter monitoring systems has transformed perioperative and critical care practice worldwide. This article discusses the evolution, benefits, and limitations of modern monitoring systems and examines whether contemporary medical practice has become excessively dependent on monitoring technology. While monitors have undoubtedly enhanced patient safety and clinical efficiency, their greatest value lies in complementing and not replacing clinical acumen and bedside assessment.