A Well Kept Medical Secret

Did you know that more Americans die each month from preventable medical deaths than were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11th? Most people don't, and this fact has been known for over 10 years. Despite this knowledge, and the goal of the medical report that concluded this, evidence seems to indicate that preventable medical deaths are on the rise, not the decline.

That decade old report by the National Institute of Medicine indicated that over 98,000 people die each year from preventable medical mistakes. A federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study concluded that an additional 99,000 patients a year die from hospital-acquired infections. Experts conclude that nearly all of these deaths are preventable as well. Over ten years ago the Institute of Medicine report recommended a nationwide reporting system for medical errors. This was vigorously opposed by the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association. To date, no national reporting system exists, and the Obama administration has not recommended one in its proposed healthcare reform project.

Why do we have reporting for automobile accident, fall, poisoning and firearm deaths and yet no national reporting for medical deaths and errors? According to this article, poisoning, firearms and fall deaths combined only account for 90,000 deaths and automobile accidents alone account for 43,600. One way for the public to determine if it is getting quality healthcare would be a national reporting system. That way, a person could look up his medical facility and take a look at the figures. You deserve this information, demand it. The only way it is going to happen is if the public demands it. Until that happens, special interest money will suppress it.