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Misdiagnosis Harms or Kills Patients

Diagnostic errors made in hospitals are responsible for up to 80,000 deaths every year. Now a study in JAMA Internal Medicine demonstrates that diagnostic errors are also a serious problem in outpatient settings.

The investigators used medical records to track down 190 cases of diagnostic error made in primary care clinics. The large variety of mistakes in diagnosis had significant potential for harm. Of the 190 patients, 36 experienced lasting serious harm and 27 others died. The kinds of diseases that were not diagnosed correctly included pneumonia, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, cancer and urinary tract infections. The breakdown was largely traced to failures in doctor-patient communication. An accompanying commentary in the journal suggests that at least 150,000 Americans experience severe harm or death from misdiagnosis each year. [JAMA Internal Medicine, online, Feb. 25, 2013]

We have discussed the difficulties of diagnosis several times with prominent physicians on our radio show. You may be interested in Diagnostic Errors, Diagnostic Puzzles, The Underbelly of Health Care, or The Art of Diagnosis.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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