Chapter 4.A.1: The Nature and Extent of Medical Error

Note 1. The Extent of Medical Error

For critique of the Institute of Medicine’s findings, see Rodney A. Hayward & Timothy P. Hofer, Estimating Hospital Deaths Due to Medical Errors: Preventability Is in the Eye of the Reviewer, 286 JAMA 415 (2001); Clement J. McDonald et al., Deaths Due to Medical Errors Are Exaggerated in Institute of Medicine Report, 284 JAMA 93 (2000). 

For academic analysis of quality of care issues, see Symposium, Patient Safety, 37(11) Health Aff. (Nov. 2018); Symposium, Medical Malpractice and Errors, 29(9) Health Aff. (Sept. 2010); Symposium, Quality Health Care, 46 Perspect. Biol. Med. 1 (Winter 2003); Symposium, Patient Injury, Medical Errors, Liability and Reform, 29 J. L. Med. & Ethics 248 (2001).

For a personal account of error in medicine, see Marianne Paget, A Complex Sorrow: Reflections on Cancer and an Abbreviated Life (1993).

Note 3. Systems Error

For discussions of systems error and other types of medical errors, see David M. Studdert, Michelle M. Mello and David M. Studdert, In from the Cold? Law's Evolving Role in Patient Safety, 68 DePaul L. Rev. 421 (2018-2019); Anjali Joseph et al, The Architecture of Safety: An Emerging Priority for Improving Patient Safety, 37(11) Health Affairs 1884 (2018); Pascale Carayon et al, Challenges and opportunities for improving patient safety through human factors and systems engineering, 37(11) Health Affairs 1862 (2018); Michelle M. Mello & David M. Studdert, Deconstructing Negligence: The Role of Individual and System Factors in Causing Medical Injuries, 96 Geo. L.J. 599 (2008); Stephen R. Latham, System Responsibility: Three Readings of the IOM Report on Medical Error, 27 Am. J. L. & Med. 145 (2001).

Note 5. Disclosing Errors to Patients

For additional discussion, pro and con, of disclosing and apologizing for medical error, and whether doing so increases litigation risk, see Benjamin J. McMichael et al, "Sorry" is never enough: how state apology laws fail to reduce medical malpractice liability risk, 71 Stanford Law Review 341 (2019); T. H. Gallagher et al, Communication and resolution programs: Reduces liability costs, but research on other outcomes is limited, 37(11) Health Affairs 1845 (2018); Symposium, 33(1) Health Aff. 11-52 (Jan. 2014); Steven Raper, No Role for Apology: Remedial Work and the Problem of Medical Injury, 11 Yale J. Health Pol’y L. & Ethics 267 (2011); Jennifer K. Robbennolt, Apologies and Medical Error, 467 Clin. Orth. & Related Research 376 (2009); Richard Bourne, Medical Malpractice: Should Courts Force Doctors to Confess Their Own Negligence to Their Patients?, 61 Ark. L. Rev. 621 (2009); Aaron Lazare, The Healing Forces of Apology in Medical Practice and Beyond, 57 DePaul L. Rev. 251 (2008); Thomas Gallagher et al., Disclosing Harmful Medical Errors to Patients, 356 New Engl. J. Med. 2713 (2007); Thomas Gallagher et al, Choosing Your Words Carefully: How Physicians Would Disclose Harmful Medical Errors to Patients, 166 Arch. Intern. Med. 1585 (2006); Jonathan Todres, Toward Healing and Restoration for All: Reframing Medical Malpractice Reform, 39 Conn. L. Rev. 667 (2006); Lee Taft, Apology and Medical Mistake: Opportunity or Foil?, 14 Ann. Health L. 55 (2005); K. M. Mazor et al., Communicating with Patients About Medical Errors: A Review of the Literature, 164 Arch. Intern. Med. 1690 (2003).