A new study reveals medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. This statistic is particularly surprising, as ‘medical error’ is not listed as cause of death on death certificates or in official cause of death rankings. Still, medical errors kill 251,000 people annually, an alarming 9.5% of deaths each year. The scope of medical errors is vast but a few of the most common include:
-ADVERSE DRUG EVENTS
-IV AND CATHETER-RELATED INFECTIONS
-INJURIES FROM FALLS AND IMMOBILITY
-ADVERSE EVENTS DURING CHILDBIRTH
-SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS