clinical decision support systems (cdss) are designed to aid clinical decision-making. they have the potential to effect a great improvement in this regard, and to result in improved patient outcomes. yet while cdss, when used properly, bring about an overall improvement in performance, they also cause errors that may not be recognized owing to automation bias. one danger is that the incorrect advice given by these systems may cause users to change a correct decision that they have made on their own. given the highly serious nature of some of the potential consequences of ab in the health-care field, it is especially important to be aware of this problem when it occurs in clinical settings.