Calif. weighs medical error reporting law

California is the latest state to consider a law that would force hospitals to publicly report medical errors. State Sen. Arlene Alquist (D) proposed a bill this week that could impose the harshest reporting requirements in the nation on California hospitals. Under the proposal, hospitals would have 48 hours to report any medical error--including non-life threatening incidents such as giving a patient the wrong medication--to state health officials. Data would be publicly posted on a state Web site. The time frame for fixing addressing problems would also be radically altered: The state would have 45 days to investigate any reported error rather than the current six months. Alquist's office argues that five to 10 patients a year die at each hospital in the state as a result of medical errors. The California Hospital Association is opposing the legislation. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has not yet taken a public position.

- see this Sacramento Bee article