Medical Errors Experienced by 41% of Americans

New Survey Reveals Patient Attitudes on Patient Safety

A new survey reveals that 41% of Americans have experienced a medical error while receiving healthcare.

According to the national survey, Americans’ Experiences with Medical Errors and Views on Patient Safety, by the IHI/NPSF Lucian Leape Institute and NORC at the University of Chicago:

• 10% reported personally experiencing a medical error
• 20% know someone whose care they were involved with experienced a medical error
• 11% reported having experienced an error both personally and involved in someone else’s care.

Most Errors Attributed to Mistakes in Diagnosing Medical Conditions

The most commonly reported type of errors were those related to diagnoses. Among those who have experienced a medical error, 59% say that the patient had a medical condition that was:

• not diagnosed
• diagnosed incorrectly
• diagnosis was delayed.

Infographic: Betsy Lehman Center Safety Snapshot

Respondents reported that 57% of medical errors occurred in outpatient settings including emergency departments. 34% reported medical errors occurring in inpatient settings.

Of those who experienced a medical error, 73% said the error had long-term or permanent impact on the patient’s physical health, emotional health, financial well-being, or their family relationships, and many say they experienced lasting impacts on multiple aspects of their lives.

Reporting Medical Errors

The survey found that people often don’t report medical errors because they don’t think it will make a difference.

• 56% of those who did not report the error said they didn’t think it would do any good.
• 40% said they didn’t know how to report the error.
• 24% said the error was an honest mistake and no harm was intended so they didn’t report it. 

Contributing Factors in Medical Errors

Some of the most common factors that contributed to the incidence of a medical error include healthcare providers who:

• don’t pay attention to details
• aren't listening
• are poorly trained
• say there was nothing wrong when there was
• don't spend enough time with the patient
• are overworked, stressed, distracted or tired
• lack of communication among providers
• don't discuss goals or treatment choices.

Other factors identified include medical care being very complicated and having too many providers involved in care with no clear leader.

The nationwide survey of more than 2,500 adults was conducted by NORC from May 12–June 26, 2017.

For more information including survey fact sheets and to download the full report, visit the Institute for Healthcare Improvement at http://www.ihi.org.

View our main website at LubinandMeyer.com - Lubin & Meyer PC - New England's Leader in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Law

Did you experience a medical error that caused you or a loved one a lasting injury or the need for additional medical care? Our medical malpractice lawyers and medical case reviewers are available to answer your questions regarding a possible medical malpractice claim. Contact us for a free case evaluation in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island

Cardiology Malpractice Claims Study: Why Patients Sue

Missed Diagnosis Is Leading Cause of Cardiology Malpractice Lawsuits

What leads cardiac patients to file medical malpractice lawsuits? According to a review of 429 cardiology claims that closed between 2007 and 2013 by The Doctors Company — a physician-owned medical malpractice insurer — the most common reason is diagnosis related. That is, either a failure to diagnose, a delay in diagnosis, or a wrong diagnosis.

A brief summary of the top 5 reasons for the lawsuits (as reviewed by the insurer) are:

• Diagnosis related = 25%
• Improper management of treatment = 14%
• Improper performance of treatment/procedure = 12%
• Improper performance of surgery = 11%
• Improper medication management = 6%

Click to view enlarged version of the infographic below.

Getting the Right Diagnosis

For information to help you receive a proper diagnosis of heart disease symptoms, please visit this web page at rightdiagnosis.com.

Cardiology and Heart Attack Lawsuits in MA, NH, RI

Attorneys at Lubin & Meyer PC have successfully represented cardiac patients in many types of malpractice claims including:

• Misdiagnosed cardiac arrest - ($5 million settlement)
• Failure to respond to elevated Troponin levels - ($4.75 million settlement)
• Failure to diagnose and treat chest pains - ($1.74 million settlement)

To read the trial reports of other heart attack related lawsuits, click on: Cardiac Malpractice Verdicts and Settlements.

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View our main website at LubinandMeyer.com - Lubin & Meyer PC - New England's Leader in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Law

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Attorneys licensed and practicing in MA, NH and RI.

Do you have questions about a possible cardiac care malpractice lawsuit?

Diagnostic Errors and How To Avoid Them — A Critical Checklist for Patients

We have reported repeatedly on studies related to medical errors and infections that happen in hospitals. However, diagnostic errors (which often happen outside of the hospital in a doctor's office) have escaped the kind of tracking that other medical harms receive. Research from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, shows that "diagnostic errors — not surgical mistakes or medication overdoses — accounted for the largest fraction of claims, the most severe patient harm, and the highest total of penalty payouts." According to a press release announcing the study, "diagnostic errors could easily be the biggest patient safety and medical malpractice problem in the United States."

What is a diagnostic error?

A diagnostic error can be defined as a diagnosis that is missed, wrong or delayed, as detected by a subsequent definitive test or finding. The ensuing harm results from the delay or failure to treat a condition present when the working diagnosis was wrong or unknown, or from treatment provided for a condition not actually present.

“Overall, diagnostic errors have been under appreciated and under-recognized because they’re difficult to measure and keep track of owing to the frequent gap between the time the error occurs and when it’s detected,” said the study leader David Newman-Toker. “These are frequent problems that have played second fiddle to medical and surgical errors, which are evident more immediately.”

How can patients help to ensure they receive the right diagnosis?

The National Patient Safety Foundation has created a Checklist for Getting the Right Diagnosis with some tips for patients.

This 8-point checklist can be printed and taken with you when you meet with your doctor.

View our main website at LubinandMeyer.com
Lubin & Meyer PC - New England's Leader in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Law. Attorneys practicing in MA, NH and RI.

Cauda Equina: A Dangerous Outcome When Patient Complaints Are Not Taken Seriously

Lubin & Meyer settled a NH medical malpractice lawsuit this month involving a 50-year-old woman who now suffers from significant weakness of her legs and bowel and bladder incontinence due to a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of cauda equina syndrome.

Attorney Benjamin Novotny who represented the claimant in this lawsuit said that cauda equina syndrome is often misdiagnosed as simple back pain. "It is a big patient safety concern that only arises because health care providers often do not take patient complaints as seriously as they should."

What is cauda equina syndrome?

Cauda equina syndrome is a serious medical emergency involving extreme pressure and swelling of the nerves at the end of the spinal cord. If patients with cauda equina syndrome do not get appropriate treatment, adverse results can include:

• permanent paralysis
• impaired bladder and/or bowel control
• difficulty walking
• other neurological and physical problems.

"Hospitals and care providers must accurately and timely diagnose this condition before the nerves become permanently injured," said Novotny. In this case, the patient's primary care doctor dismissed her complaints as lumbar disc disease and sciatica without requesting a consultation or imaging study and despite repeated complaints of pain, muscle spasms, weakness in the legs with numbness and tingling. She was eventually diagnosed with cauda equina 11 days later, after a visit to St. Joseph's Hospital and a transfer to Lahey Clinic.

Read the full trial report here: Delay in Diagnosis of Cauda Equina.

Lubin & Meyer has extensive experience successfully pursuing claims involving cauda equina syndrome, including but not limited to:

• $1 Million Settlement: Delay of Spinal Surgery causes  permanent neurological injuries due to Cauda Equina
• $1 Million Settlement: Back Pain, Radiating to Legs Is Attributed to Diabetes, Not Cauda Equina

View our main website at LubinandMeyer.com
Lubin & Meyer PC - New England's Leader in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Law. Attorneys practicing in MA, NH and RI.