Thousands of treatment errors confirmed

German Medical Association publishes treatment error statistics

06/17/2013

More than 7,500 applications for alleged treatment errors were processed in 2012, according to the current statistics of the German Medical Association by the expert commissions and arbitration boards. Almost a third of the cases confirmed the suspicion of the patients. According to the Chairman of the Standing Committee of Expert Commissions and Conciliation Agencies, the number of interventions per year is limited due to the number of interventions performed each year. Andreas Crusius, but in the frame.

„Mistakes happen, even in medicine. But we do not sweep these mistakes under the table, but we learn from them and we are committed to helping the affected patients as soon as possible“, so Crusius at the presentation of treatment error statistics in Berlin. Moreover, the treatment errors are by no means to be equated with a medical examination per se. Although do „Doctors mistakes, but we are not rubbish“, Crusius fought against the widespread in the public mindset linking errors in treatment and Ärztepfusch.

Often treatment errors in knee and hip arthrosis
According to the figures of the German Medical Association, in 2012, of the 7,578 claims for alleged treatment errors, 2,280 cases were confirmed. In the case of the majority of those affected (1,889 cases), the treatment error led to a damage to health that justified a patient's claim for compensation, according to the statement of the German Medical Association. As in previous years „the most common diagnoses leading to treatment error reproaches, knee and hip arthrosis, and forearm, lower leg, and ankle fractures“ been. However, in the hospitals could be a slight decline „Proven error in knee joint arthrosis (65 cases) and forearm fractures (55 cases)“ be determined.

Treatment error in the total number of treatments moderate?
Although every single treatment error in case of doubt associated with severe health problems of the affected and therefore avoid as possible. But Crusius made it clear, according to the Federal Medical Association, that „the number of reported treatment errors, measured in terms of the total number of around 18 million treatment cases in hospitals and more than 540 million in the contracted medical sector alone, in the per thousand range“ emotional. This statement applies even taking into account the cases registered with health insurances, liability insurers and the courts.

Treatment error statistics for error prevention
To the goal of treatment error statistics explained Professor Walter Schaffartzik, medical director of the accident hospital Berlin and chairman of the arbitration board for medical liability questions of the northern German medical associations that „The data will be prepared by the medical profession for training and quality assurance events in order to develop targeted strategies for error prevention.“ In this way, problem-oriented work can be carried out to continuously improve the quality of medical care, which is done unnoticed by the general public. „For example, we have established quality indicators, work with World Health Organization checklists, and use error prevention databases, such as the Critical Events Anonymous Reporting System, CIRS“, The expert reported on efforts to reduce treatment errors.

Dark figure in case of treatment errors
About a month ago, the Medical Services of Health Insurance (MDK) had already published its evaluation of suspected treatment errors from 2012. The MDK reported about 12,500 reports on suspected treatment errors, with the treatment error being confirmed in 3,932 cases. The vice-director of the medical service of the central association of health insurances, Stefan Gronemeyer, stated at the publication of the report, „The almost unchanged number of allegations and confirmed treatment errors shows that there is still a need for action.“ A statement that is all the more true, since the actual number of treatment errors is likely to be significantly higher, as shown by the statistics of the MDK or the German Medical Association. For here, according to the experts, a significant number of unreported cases can be assumed. (Fp)