Comments on: How difficult is it to measure medical errors? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-measure-medical-errors.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Web Media Daily – Tues. June 16, 2009 | Reinventing Yourself...http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-measure-medical-errors.html#comment-92480 Web Media Daily – Tues. June 16, 2009 | Reinventing Yourself... Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:10:47 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=37796#comment-92480 [...] How difficult is it to measure medical errors? [...] [...] How difficult is it to measure medical errors? [...]

]]> By: Evan Falchukhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-measure-medical-errors.html#comment-92468 Evan Falchuk Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:09:17 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=37796#comment-92468 You raise a good point, Kevin.These data - the 100,000 figure - are sensationalized because they are, well, sensational. You can use that number to support almost any agenda you like: the idea we don't need medical malpractice reform (how can you ask for caps on damages, 100,000 people are killed every year!), or that we need more evidence based care (doctors left to their own devices kill 100,000 people each year!), or that we need to reform our health care system (our system leads to 100,000 deaths each year!). Or, really, whatever you like.I don't doubt that there are a very many people hurt by things that happen to them while being treated. But oversimplifying these isn't helpful to finding solutions.Evan Falchuk You raise a good point, Kevin.

These data – the 100,000 figure – are sensationalized because they are, well, sensational. You can use that number to support almost any agenda you like: the idea we don’t need medical malpractice reform (how can you ask for caps on damages, 100,000 people are killed every year!), or that we need more evidence based care (doctors left to their own devices kill 100,000 people each year!), or that we need to reform our health care system (our system leads to 100,000 deaths each year!). Or, really, whatever you like.

I don’t doubt that there are a very many people hurt by things that happen to them while being treated. But oversimplifying these isn’t helpful to finding solutions.

Evan Falchuk

]]> By: Matthttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-measure-medical-errors.html#comment-92428 Matt Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:59:54 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=37796#comment-92428 The irony of physicians complaining about the misuse of statistics in a political debate is rich. The irony of physicians complaining about the misuse of statistics in a political debate is rich.

]]> By: Michael Kirsch, M.D.http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-measure-medical-errors.html#comment-92426 Michael Kirsch, M.D. Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:52:09 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=37796#comment-92426 Measuring medical errors is difficult. Conversely, measuring medical quality, an Obama priority, is extremely challenging. Medical quality is like pornography, it's hard to define but we know it when we see it. See http://mdwhistleblower.blogspot.com/2009/02/appraising-art-and-medicine.html, a posting on a blog devoted to medical quality. Measuring medical errors is difficult. Conversely, measuring medical quality, an Obama priority, is extremely challenging. Medical quality is like pornography, it’s hard to define but we know it when we see it. See http://mdwhistleblower.blogspot.com/2009/02/appraising-art-and-medicine.html, a posting on a blog devoted to medical quality.

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