Quote:
Originally Posted by PoppySead
200,000 medical mistakes cause death a year, and that's just the ones who kill people.
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Probably not. the original report estimated between 44,000 and 98,000 preventable deaths per year. However, other researchers disagree with the conclusions of that study.
How Many Deaths Are Due to Medical Error? Getting the Number Right
"We reviewed the supporting evidence to examine the validity of the IOM's estimates.
The data substantiate the IOM's statement about the frequency of adverse events among hospitalized patients.
The IOM's estimate of the number of preventable deaths due to medical errors, however, is not well substantiated: The methods used were highly subjective, and their reliability is unknown.
Given the widespread publicity accorded the IOM's statement (and its potential impact on policy), it is unfortunate that we do not have a credible estimate of the number of deaths due to medical errors."
The estimated number was never 200,000. First it was "up to" 98,000, then "almost 100,000", now you've bumped it up to "200,000". The fact that the original estimate was between 44,000 and 98,000 was ignored by the media, who conveniently omitted the lower figure.
For more on how the media dealt with the report:
http://www.acponline.org/clinical_in...00/dentzer.pdf
Yes, medical errors should not happen. Doctors and hospitals are working on ways to improve systems to accomplish that. In the case in the OP, if the surgeon relied on a report from a radiologist that mis-identified the kidney with the problem, I think the responsibility should remain with the radiologist. The surgeon should not have to personally re-read every X-ray study that is done.