A recent study by the Department of Health and Human Services found that one in seven Medicare patients is harmed in the process of receiving medical care at a hospital. And while infections picked up in the hospital are a major issue, a majority of the problems came from poorly administered medication and bad bedside care. Some 180,000 patient deaths a year are attributable to "adverse effects," such as giving out too much medicine or making other mistakes. In October of 2008, 134,000 Medicare patients reported a harmful episode while in the hospital. Forty-four percent of these events were "clearly or likely preventable." Oops.
From The Week magazine, Oct 3, 2010
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