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Report blames hospitals for thousands of patient deaths

Hospital Safety Connection, January 9, 2003

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Tens of thousands of patients die each year from preventable causes because hospitals fail to ensure safety, quality, and public accountability, according to a National of Academy of Sciences report released January 7.

Hospital-acquired infections linked to unsanitary conditions or practices are a leading cause of unnecessary deaths, with at least 40,000 deaths each year, the Chicago Tribune reports. In addition, about 18,000 patients die annually because of inadequate medical care following diagnosed heart attacks.

The report was compiled by dozens of physicians and health care professionals in more than a dozen states. Overall, the report outlines 20 areas for reform, including improved treatment for diabetics, increased cancer screening, and better immunization for children and adults.

The report's conclusions reinforce a Chicago Tribune investigation published in 2002 that found widespread, life-threatening sanitation problems in most U.S. hospitals. The Tribune also found that 103,000 patients died from hospital-acquired infections and that an estimated 75,000 deaths were preventable in 2000.

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