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Facts & Figures - Medical Malpractice

Between 44,000-98,000 Americans die from medical errors annually.
Source: Balas, E.A.  2001.  Information Systems Can Prevent Errors and Improve Quality.[Comment].  Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association  8 (4):398-9. 

Only 55% of patients in a recent random sample of adults received recommended care, with little difference found between care recommended for prevention, to address acute episodes or to treat chronic conditions.
Source:McGlynn, E.A., S.M. Asch, J. Adams, J. Keesey, J. Hicks, A. DeCristofaro, and E.A. Kerr.  2003.  The Quality of Health Care Delivered to Adults in the United States.[Comment].  New England Journal of Medicine  348 (26):2635-45.
http://www.iom.edu/subpage.asp?id=14980

18,000 Americans die each year from heart attacks because they did not receive preventive medications, although they were eligible for them.
Source:Chassin, M.R.  1997.  Assessing strategies for quality improvement.  Health Aff (Millwood)  16 (3):151-61.
http://www.iom.edu/subpage.asp?id=14980

Medical errors kill more people per year than breast cancer, AIDS, or motor vehicle accidents.
Source:Institute of Medicine.  2000. To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System.   L. T. Kohn, J. M. Corrigan, and M. S. Donaldson, eds. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press.
http://www.iom.edu/subpage.asp?id=14980