Anonymous Surveys Uncover Diagnostic Errors
Posted on Jan. 12 2010 in Medical Malpractice Cases
A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine analyzed 583 physician-reported errors related to missed or delayed diagnoses, mistakes the authors called a “frequent and under-appreciated cause of patient injury.” Diagnostic Errors ‘Leading Cause’ of Medical Malpractice Also calling them the “leading cause” of medical malpractice litigation, the authors cited diagnostic error rates of 10% to 15%, as confirmed by decades of data from autopsy reports. Called the Diagnostic Error Evaluation and Research (DEER) project, the study was funded by AHRQ and involved anonymously surveying hundreds of clinicians about cases in which they personally committed or directly observed what they personally deemed to be diagnostic errors. Most Common Misdiagnosis The
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