Diagnostic errors more common, costly and harmful than treatment mistakes
Monday, April 22, 2013 - 23:49
in Health & Medicine
In reviewing 25 years of U.S. malpractice claim payouts, researchers found 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. Diagnosis-related payments amounted to $38.8 billion between 1986 and 2010, they found.