26
Jul 2019
Study reveals one in twelve patients are harmed by medical errors, leaving tens of thousands dead or disabled
A study undertaken by the University of Manchester has found that during the course of their treatment, around 6 per cent of patients suffer preventable medical mistakes.
New research published in the British Medical Journal has found that of the 337,025 patients who were seen between the years 2000 and 2009, medical staff made mistakes when treating six per cent of those patients, or 20,221 people.
In the new study, researchers at the University of Manchester state that around as many people report suffering harm in the process of the medical care as suffer from chronic diseases like multiple sclerosis in first world countries.
Hospitals have a legal obligation to report medical mistakes that occur whilst caring for a patient, but that requires staff to own up to mistakes, mistakes which are sometimes fatal, which means the reporting of mistakes may not always occur.
Based on the analysis of the study, it is estimated that around 50 per cent of the injuries, infections, psychological traumas and other mistakes could have been avoided.
The report concluded “Our findings affirm that preventable patient harm is a serious problem across medical care settings” and called for improved procedures to prevent such obvious, but life-threatening mistakes as medication mix-ups and to ensure that medical staff come clean when their mistakes hurt patients.
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.
Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 738
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