Medical errors the 3rd leading cause of death??

[ShaneTeam]

Good morning everyone,

I was watching the news, winding down from a night shift, when I heard that medical errors are the third leading cause of death. I Googled it, and found these:

Researchers: Medical errors now third leading cause of death in United States - The Washington Post

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160504085309.htm

I assumed there have been mistakes, some lethal, but 1/4 million deaths per year?? I would like to know what you guys think.

[Susie2310]

How long have you been a ED physician?

That's the problem with trying to judge medical negligence by "standard of care": it doesn't matter what you know, or I know, or even what the attending hospital knows, standard of care is determined by what a reasonable provider in the same scenario would have done (in this case what another ED physician would have done). In simple terms it's what the bare minimum is and that's not a good way to decide, as is evidenced by what your family member went through.

Google "medical standard of care" and you will find legal definitions that don't talk about the "bare minimum" a provider can do. The "bare minimum" is not the standard of care where my family member received care. Not sure why you think I need to be a physician. As I mentioned; the ER physician ultimately admitted my family member, which was the appropriate action to take. Did you miss that my family member spent three days in hospital? Inpatient admission criteria is not secret knowledge, and I know the relevant standards of care that prevail. I am a nurse just like you.

[ShaneTeam]

I still think it would be Ferguson syndrome all over again. All I would like to see from this is an accurate way to track the info, and a system put in place to use that info to help fix the problems. As you are alluding to, misdiagnosis does happen. However, it is just a single aspect to a larger problem.

Oh, and Susie2310? You may want to look at BostonFNP's account. All three of us may be nurses, and you and I might be equal, but I think you would be hard pressed to be his. I know I am not. He brings a lot more to the table than I could.

[Susie2310]

It really is disturbing to know that so many medical errors are made, and I can well understand that some health care professionals feel quite defensive about this fact. As I posted earlier, the general public have the power to advocate for change. I hope that some changes will be forthcoming as a result.

[ShaneTeam]

Oh, and BTW, here is the program I had seen on CNN the other day.

I claim no rights to this. It belongs to CNN.