MEDICAL MALPRACTICE DEATHS SHOULD BE REPORTED
Medical News Today recently reported there are 250,000 deaths yearly in the United States result from medical error. This makes medical mistakes the third leading cause of death in the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calculates the leading causes of death in the U.S. They do this based on information recorded on death certificates. However, medical error does not currently feature on death certificates. This is because there is no International Classification of Disease (ICD) code for medical error. The ICD system informs mortality statistics for 117 countries. Without an appropriate code, there is limited data on the number of deaths due to medical error.
Our lawyers agree that this lack of medical malpractice reporting is a problem.
DEATH AND INJURY CAUSED BY HOSPITAL OR DOCTOR MISTAKE
The study was an analysis of prior studies. In other words, they combined data from the earlier studies. By doing this, the researchers estimated that 251,454 U.S. deaths occur as a result of medical error each year.
They point out that the CDC list of the leading causes of death in the U.S. puts heart disease at the top. Of course, next is cancer. Currently, chronic respiratory disease is listed as the third leading cause of death. However, the estimated 251,454 deaths in this study suggests medical mistake by hospital or doctor is actually the third leading cause of death in the U.S.
Based on their results, the authors call for medical errors to be classified as a separate cause of death on medical certificates. Doing this would enable researchers and public health organizations to better understand the scale of the problem. “Top-ranked causes of death as reported by the CDC inform our country’s research funding and public health priorities,” notes the author. “Right now, cancer and heart disease get a ton of attention. However, medical errors don’t appear on the list. Therefore, the problem doesn’t get the funding and attention it deserves.”
Mistakes by doctors and hospital staff result in death or serious injury in many cases. Our attorneys agree that this should be tracked just like other causes of death an injury.
BETTER REPORTING WOULD REDUCE MEDICAL MISTAKES
As the authors point out, it is impossible to eliminate human error. However, better measurement could identify ways to reduce medical errors. The article suggests death certificates could add an additional field asking whether a complication leading to death could have been prevented. Furthermore, they suggest hospitals conduct fast and efficient independent investigations after a patient death to determine whether error played a role.
The authors conclude: “Sound scientific methods, beginning with an assessment of the problem, are critical to approaching any health threat to patients. The problem of medical error should not be exempt from this scientific approach. More appropriate recognition of the role of medical error in patient death could heighten awareness and guide investments in research and prevention.”
LAWYERS FOR MEDICAL MALPRACTICE MN
Pam Rochlin and David Rochlin are personal injury lawyers with more than 25 years’ experience. We represent people injured in accidents throughout Minnesota. Our attorneys represent people injured by medical malpractice in many situations. For example, where the doctor operated on the wrong body part or administered the wrong medication. Our lawyers also take cases where the patient is dropped or not watched carefully. If a loved one was injured or died because of an accident or mistake at a hospital or clinic, call us for a free consultation with an attorney.