What is a key characteristic of diseases classified as 'iatrogenic'?

Iatrogenic diseases are specifically defined as conditions that are caused by medical treatment or interventions. These can include complications that arise from procedures, medications, or therapies that are intended to treat a patient. For instance, a patient may develop an infection at the site of surgery or experience side effects from a medication that was prescribed to address another health issue.

Since iatrogenic diseases result directly from the actions of healthcare providers—intended to help—their defining characteristic centers around the nexus of healthcare practice and unintended consequences. This makes them distinct from conditions that occur naturally or without any medical intervention, as well as those primarily linked to pathogens or genetic predispositions.