19,000 hospital deaths Has the AOK greatly exaggerated?

Information in the AOK hospital report incorrect? - DKG contradicts the number of 19,000 deaths due to faulty hospital treatment

01/25/2014

After the AOK in their current hospital report came to the conclusion that in hospitals in Germany almost 19,000 deaths occur due to treatment errors per year, the German Hospital Association (DKG) responded outraged. According to the DKG, the figures are completely exaggerated. „I urge the AOK federal association to apologize for the allegation in the current hospital report“, emphasized Alfred Dänzer, President of the German Hospital Association (DKG).

The „Conclusion of an in-depth, detailed review of all available data on incidence of hospital treatment“, According to the DKG, the maximum number of hospital deaths due to treatment errors was well below the stated 18,800. In fact, the applications for alleged treatment errors at the conciliation boards of the medical associations only 82 related to deaths and even taking into account the damage databases of liability insurers, the extrapolation comes to a maximum of about 1,200 claims with death.

Dubious calculation of fatal treatment errors
The Medical Service of the health insurance funds (MDK) have listed a total of only 8,600 cases of suspected treatment errors for the hospital sector, whereas the AOK of 188,000 cases, reports the DKG. Added to this is the erroneous assumption that every tenth of these alleged treatment errors is so serious that the patients die as a result. In the opinion of the DKG president a very dubious calculation. Especially as minor treatment errors such as drug confusion or mild infections usually pose no life-threatening risk. In addition, the data of the arbitration board, the liability insurers and the MDK should have been taken into account for the AOK hospital report. Instead, the extrapolation was based on updated estimates from the years 1996 to 2006. Here, among other things, have the fundamental „Advances in the installation of provisions and tools to improve patient safety and quality of hospital services“ no consideration found, reports the DKG. Alfred Dänzer comes to the conclusion that „the number of deaths claimed in the report is only a knowing misstatement“ can.

Apology of the AOK demanded
The fact analysis results according to announcement of the German hospital company that the data of the AOK to the deaths due to treatment errors in hospitals „absolutely dubious“ are. DKG President Danzer emphasized that this would irresponsibly vilify the performance of hospitals and their more than one million committed employees and unsettle patients. He therefore expects the AOK to apologize for the false statements in the hospital report. (Fp)