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According to an article published in a very reputable medical journal, over 225,000 patients die each year in the
United States due to medical errors, making medical malpractice the third leading cause of death. Journal
of the American Medical Association 2001; Barach et al; 286: 2813-14. - Medical errors
cost Medicare $8.8 billion and resulted in 238,337 potentially preventable deaths during 2004-2006. Health Grades
(2008, April 8). Medical Errors Cost US $8.8 Billion, Result in 238,337 Potentially Preventable Deaths, Study Shows. ScienceDaily.
Retrieved May 10, 2009.
According to a study
of 37 million patient records, about 195,000 patients died in the US from potentially preventable hospital medical errors
in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Qual Lett Healthc Lead 2004; 16(9): 10-1. Based
on 1990 Harvard School of Public Health study, only one medical malpractice claim is filed for every 7.6 hospital injuries.
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EXAMPLES OF MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE
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NOT EXCUSABLE MEDICAL ERRORS Some medical errors can never be justified. The Minnesota Department of Health has a list of 28 events
that Hospitals are legally required to report (MN statute §
144.7065). These medical errors or complications are considered the type of mistake that should not occur and include: - Surgery
performed on a wrong body part.
- Surgery performed on the wrong patient..
- The wrong surgical procedure
performed.
- Unintentionally retained foreign objects after surgery or other procedure.
- Patient
suicide or attempted suicide.
- Medication errors.
- Low blood
sugars resulting in serious disability or death.
- Some pressure ulcers acquired during hospitalization.
- Environmental
events, like burns, fall, electric shock, and wrong gas given.
The Minnesota Annual Report of January 2009 included 312 reportable events.
COMMON
MEDICAL ERRORS - Mismanagement of surgical complications.
- Mismanagement
during pregnancy or delivery.
- Failure or delay in diagnosing a cancer or illness.
- DVT
(blood clots in veins) or P.E. (clots in lungs) for failure to use appropriate preventive measures.
- Medication
errors.
- Communication errors between medical providers or with patients.
- Increased
infection rate due to failure to administer timely preoperatively IV antibiotics.
- Medical
error by sleep deprived physician who continues working after a prior busy call day.
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