It’s no surprise that thousands of people die from medical errors every year. But a new study from the Journal of Patient Safety reveals that as many as 440,000 patients die each year in the US from preventable medical errors. That means that medical errors are now the third leading cause of death in the US, exceeded only by cancer and heart disease. The article in Forbes magazine about the study’s findings calls on hospitals to put a higher priority on patient safety, and for patients and citizens to demand action.
Read the original study in Journal of Patient Safety.
Contributed by Maria Damiano, Paul Harte Professional Corporation. Ms. Damiano is an OTLA member and Chair of OTLA’s Medical Malpractice Section (2013-2014).
