Wampum

Is it possible, just barely possible, mind you, that the reason that there seems to be a lot of medical malpractice suits is that there is a lot of malpractice?

A recent report from Minnesota under the standards of the National Quality Forum suggests that it is very possible.

The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports (link via Patridiots):

Twenty patients died in Minnesota hospitals during a 15-month period because of medical errors or oversights including falls, faulty medical equipment and administering the wrong medication, the state Health Department said in a new report.

The report, released Wednesday, documented 99 serious errors between July 1, 2003 and Oct. 6, 2004. Minnesota is the first state to report its mistakes under standards developed by the National Quality Forum, a Washington-based nonprofit. New Jersey and Connecticut also adopted the standards, which are being considered elsewhere…

St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth reported the most deaths due to medical errors, with four. The causes were a fall, a medication error, a malfunctioning medical device and a burn.

Three patients died after medical errors in Mayo Clinic facilities in Rochester and Mankato, including two who received incorrect medications and one apparently healthy patient who died after an operation.