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New Studies on Medical Errors

On Behalf of | Sep 14, 2016 | Medical Malpractice

A new study indicates that medical errors kill about 250-thousand people a year. The study, by surgeon and Johns Hopkins University professor Martin Makary, reveals that medical error may be the third leading cause of death in the United States, behind heart disease and cancer.

The study explains that death certificates don’t have a place for hospitals to acknowledge medical error, relying on what’s known as “International Classification of Disease Code,” so human and system errors cannot be recorded.

Makary asserts that, while doctors and others may not acknowledge mistakes for fear of malpractice suits, reporting still needs to be improved, and medical and legal protections are needed.

Another study shows that one percent of all doctors account for a third of all paid malpractice claims, and the more often a doctor is sued, the more likely he or she will be sued again.

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