Hospital Error

A health care ranking group has released a report that suggests that deaths from human error in hospital may be double the previous estimate. The new report by HealthGrades, a medical ranking group, suggests that almost two hundred thousand deaths a year occur in hospitals across the country due to preventable human error.

Experts disagree on the methodology used in the study. But most agree, regardless of the body count, that more can be done to prevent accidental deaths.

Click one of the "Listen" links to hear allegations of an epidemic of deadly mistakes in America's centers of health care.

Guests:

Blane Schilling, MD, Senior Consultant at HealthGrades, which released a recent report suggesting that deaths related to hospital error may be twice the previous estimate

Lucian Leape, MD, adjunct Professor of Health Policy at Harvard's School of Public Health, member of the Board of Directors of the National Patient Safety Foundation and the Institute of Medicine Quality of Care in America Committee

Gregg Meyer, MD, Medical Director of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization

Dennis O'Leary, M.D., president of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.