Medical errors are Third-leading cause of death in U.S. (healthcare, statistics)

[snowmountains]

Analyzing medical death rate data over an eight-year period, Johns Hopkins patient safety experts have calculated that more than 250,000 deaths per year are due to medical error in the U.S. Their figure, published May 3 in The BMJ, surpasses the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's third leading cause of death—respiratory disease, which kills close to 150,000 people per year..

..."The medical coding system was designed to maximize billing for physician services, not to collect national health statistics, as it is currently being used."

...
According to the CDC, in 2013, 611,105 people died of heart disease, 584,881 died of cancer, and 149,205 died of chronic respiratory disease—the top three causes of death in the U.S. The newly calculated figure for medical errors puts this cause of death behind cancer but ahead of respiratory disease.

Johns Hopkins study suggests medical errors are third-leading cause of death in U.S. | Hub

[jamies]

That's right. There is a far greater chance your doctor will kill you than dying from gun violence.

Therefore - ban doctors!

[DonJuanQuixote]

I even believe this is UNDER REPORTED.
I've personally known people who have died at the hands of medical professionals.

[phetaroi]

I didn't die, but I received a diagnosis of congestive heart failure about 6 months ago...which was wrong. I have a heart problem, but nothing near as serious as congestive heart failure.

4 times my medical practice has called me with test results...when I had had no tests done. Oops, wrong patient.

Diagnosed once with a cancerous tumor of the kidney. Oops, benign.

"Continue taking your omeprazole." And we all know how that is looking.

[Statz2k10]

And people want free healthcare in this country? I can only assume it would get worse with free healthcare. I hate to sound like that but with more doctor offices flooded with more patients more mistakes are bound to happen.