Deaths Due to Medical Errors Are Exaggerated in Institute of Medicine Report

Article Abstract:

A report from the Institute of Medicine may have exaggerated the number of deaths from a medical error. The report estimated that between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans die in hospitals each year from a preventable medical error. But this information came from two observational studies that could not always prove these deaths were directly caused by the error. Hospital patients by definition have a higher risk of death than non-hospitalized people.

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Institute of Medicine Medical Error Figures Are Not Exaggerated

Article Abstract:

The number of deaths caused by medical errors reported by the Institute of Medicine is probably not an exaggeration. Based on two observational studies, the institute estimated that between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans die in US hospitals each year as a result of medical errors. Critics say many of these patients would have died anyway. However, many were not very sick and terminally ill patients had been excluded from the studies. Guilt may cause some doctors to discount the report, but most errors are caused by faulty systems.

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Five years after to err is human: What have we learned?

Article Abstract:

Five yewars ago the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reported that as many as 98,000 people die due to medical errors and they called for a national effort to make health care safe. The IOM report changed the conservation and put forth the need for changing systems in order to engage patient safety and motivate hospitals to adopt new safe practices.

United States, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, Management dynamics, HEALTH SERVICES, Institute of Medicine, Management, Health care industry, Risk factors, Patients, Patient care, Company business management

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