{"id":5570,"date":"2016-07-13T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-13T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev2.facadeinteractive.com\/srddlaw\/?p=5570"},"modified":"2017-12-08T22:21:00","modified_gmt":"2017-12-08T22:21:00","slug":"number-deaths-caused-medical-error-understated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stengerglass.com\/number-deaths-caused-medical-error-understated\/","title":{"rendered":"Number of Deaths Caused By Medical Error is Understated"},"content":{"rendered":"

A recent study by physicians at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (\u201cJHU\u201d) suggests that the number of deaths directly attributable to medical errors is understated \u2013 perhaps even substantially so. The research, led by Dr. Martin Makary, professor of surgery at JHU, reveals that the understatement may stem from the system utilized in the U.S. to classify the cause of death on death certificates.<\/p>\n

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Problem in Reporting Deaths Began 65 Years Ago<\/h2>\n

The JHU researchers trace the statistical understatements back to 1949, when the United States adopted an international system of disease classification to tally causes of death. They say that the system inadvertently \u201cunder-recognized\u201d that diagnostic errors, medical mistakes, and other forms of medical error could result in death<\/a> \u2013 not just diseases and conditions.<\/p>\n

Almost 10 Percent of All Deaths May Be Tied to Medical Error<\/h2>\n

Using new methodology, the JHU researchers estimate that based on a total of 35,416,020 hospitalizations from 2000 to 2008, 251,454 deaths were due to medical error \u2013 almost 10 percent of all deaths each year in the U.S. The research would elevate medical error to the third most common cause of death in the U.S., behind heart disease and cancer. The researchers add that significant resources are devoted each year toward treatment and prevention of heart disease and cancer, while insignificant levels of funds are directed to preventing medical error. Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, responding to the JHU study, argue that the existing published mortality statistics adequately capture complication from medical care on death certificates.<\/p>\n

Host of Different Factors Make For High Level of Medical Error<\/h2>\n

The JHU researchers point out that it isn\u2019t just physician error that leads to the high mortality rates. A host of other factors are involved, including:<\/p>\n