Medical Negligence Deaths Are Preventable Study Finds

Scott Smith

Contributor

0 CommentsPrint ArticleSubscribe

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association demonstrated a high percent of medical negligence deaths were preventable with better care. Almost one quarter of active care patient deaths were considered at least possibly preventable with optimal care while six percent of medical negligence deaths rated as probably or definitely preventable. The test consisted of 14 Board Certified Internists who conducted 383 reviews of 111 hospital deaths at seven Department of Veteran Affairs medical centers in 1995-1996. The study concluded medical errors leading to medical malpractice claims are a major problem that must be addressed by the medical profession.

This study provides credible support medical malpractice wrongful death claims are preventable. Unfortunately, all too often insurance companies blame the legal system for what is categorically a problem that originates within the medical community.