How often are patients really harmed in hospitals?

A recently disclosed study found that hospitals and regulators fail to record at least 90 percent of patient injuries, infections and other safety issues.

Adverse events, such as pressure sores, bloodstream infections and medication errors amounting to 354 cases were uncovered at three U.S. teaching hospitals. A system designed by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality identified 35 cases at the same facilities, while the hopitals' voluntary reporting programs found four, according to the study, published in the journal Health Affairs.

An incomplete picture of how often patients are harmed undermines public and private efforts to improve the quality of medical services in the United States, according to David Classen, a professor at the University of Utah Law School of Medicine.

Voluntary reporting by hospital operators and the U.S.-sanctioned method for tracking adverse events failed to provide accurate insights into the safety of U.S. Hospitals.

In Florida, Governor Scott and legislators are trying to pass legislation that would limit the amount of recovery Medicaid recipients may receive when they are injured by medical errors in hospitals. If legislators' efforts are successful, the present $500,000 cap would be reduced to $200,000, which makes it impractical for a medical malpractice lawyer to take these cases, because the costs involved often run $250,000 alone.

The study of hospital safety issued not being recorded is just one more reason that lawyers need to be able to pursue medical malpractice claims against all parties involved, including hospitals, on behalf of all sectors of the population.