"Study Reveals Alarming Rate of Medical Errors Leading to Hospital Deaths in the US"

A study published in JAMA found that nearly one in five US hospital deaths are caused by misdiagnoses, with over 23 percent of patients in intensive care units being misdiagnosed or experiencing delayed diagnoses. Misdiagnoses contribute to the deaths or serious harm of nearly 18 percent of affected patients, with conditions such as infections, heart issues, and cancer being commonly misdiagnosed. Women and racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by misdiagnoses, and these errors are the most common reason for malpractice lawsuits against doctors in the US. Misdiagnosis may also contribute to the high maternal mortality rate among vulnerable groups.