International study finds medical error rates higher in US

Patients in the US are more likely to experience serious medical errors than their counterparts in other industrialized countries, a new Commonwealth Foundation sponsored study published in Health Affairs argues. Researchers found that medical errors are a serious issue from Canada to the UK, but noted that rates are slightly higher in the US. The study also examines international differences in physician-patient communication, pain management, timely access to care, care for patients with chronic diseases and other key areas.

- see this article from Health Affairs

ALSO: A patient at Kaiser Premanente's Santa Teresa Medical Center in Stanford has died after a chemotherapy drug was injected into his spine by mistake. The incident is being compared to the Betsy Lehman case, the story which triggered a national campaign aimed at preventing medical errors. Kaiser Permanente said it has paid an undisclosed settlement to the man's family. Article

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