Silent Epidemic: A Call to Action
By Bill Smith, grieving father of Zander Smith (C) All rights reserved 9-30-2024
Introduction
We entrust our lives to healthcare professionals, trusting their expertise and dedication. Yet, a silent epidemic lurks within the walls of our hospitals: the alarmingly high rate of medical errors. While we're aware of the risks of car accidents and air travel, the dangers posed by medical errors often go unnoticed. My personal experience which is refereed to as “preventable medical error’, in healthcare-speak, but was a tragic case of intentional negligence. I lost my beloved 20 year-old-son, during last Christmas holidays, as this website (YesGFA.com) speaks to in honor of my son. Zander's death is a tragic example of a preventable medical error. Sadly, such cases are far more common than we realize."
A Shocking Comparison
Consider these statistics:
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Air Travel: The risk of dying in a plane crash is incredibly low, roughly 1 in 11 million flights. (1)
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Car Accidents: While car accidents are a serious concern, the risk of death is still significantly lower than the risk of medical errors.(2)
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Medical Errors: Estimates suggest that medical errors contribute to between 250,000 and 400,000 deaths annually in the United States. The lifetime risk of dying due to a medical error is a frightning 84.8%. (3) – That is close to certain to get us all. The number is that high based on nothing being done which is almost the case over the past 20+ years since “To Err is Human” IOM report of year 2000.
The Fight for Change
Patients For Patient Safety (PFPS-US), an organization dedicated to patient safety, has been fighting a tough battle. In September 2024, PFPS-US representatives traveled to Washington DC to meet with congressmen and senators, urging them to address this crisis.
Demanding Transparency and Accountability
PFPS-US advocates for several crucial changes in the law, including:
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Mandatory Reporting: Healthcare organizations must be required to report all patient harm incidents accurately and transparently. Hiding harm impedes efforts to improve patient safety.
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National Database: Just like in aviation, patient harm data should be reported nationally in a de-identified manner to learn from and prevent future errors.
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Patient Empowerment: Patients have a right to be informed of any harm they may have experienced and should have a clear path to report it. They should also have a voice in the analysis of such events.
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Financial Consequences: Healthcare providers who fail to report harm events or engage in practices that hide errors should face financial penalties.
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Rewarding Safety: Healthcare systems that prioritize patient safety and transparent reporting should be rewarded with increased funding and better public recognition.
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A Call to Action
This crisis will not be solved without public pressure and action. We urge you to:
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Contact Your Representatives: Make your voice heard by contacting your senators and congressmen. Demand that they prioritize patient safety and hold healthcare providers accountable for medical errors.
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Support Patient Advocacy Groups: Organizations like PFPS-US are fighting for your safety. Get involved and learn more about their efforts.
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Demand Transparency: Ask your healthcare providers about their safety record and their commitment to patient safety.
Conclusion
The risk of medical errors is far greater than most people realize. It's time to break the silence, hold the healthcare industry accountable, and create a safer healthcare system for everyone. Join the fight! Get involved with PFPS-US to help demand change. Patients deserve better.
Additional Information
For more information on Patients For Patient Safety (PFPS-US) and their work,
please visit their website: https://www.pfps.us/
Non cited, information provided to invite challenge:
(1)
In the United States, approximately 42,000 of us are killed in car accidents, millions are injured with many ending in disability or death. 1 in 10,000 people die each year therefore over a lifetime the risk of dying in a car accident around 1 in 80.
(2)
Air travel fatalities and injuries are low with than 1 fatality per 1 million flight hours worldwide. The aviation industry has done something right.*
(3)
Healthcare, Estimate 250,000 deaths per year. Average hospital occupancy rate of appx 65%; stay appx 4.5 days appx 5,000 hospitals complex average is:
(3 calculations)
Total patients = 5,000 hospitals * 365 days/year * 0.65 occupancy rate ≈ 11.8 million patients/years = 85%
Risk of death = 250,000 deaths / 11.8 million patients ≈ 0.0212 or 2.12%. At estimated medical errors 250,000 and 400,000 deaths annually, lifetime risk is approximately 84.8%.
*Air travel gets perss, affects stock price, has government oversight and public pressure
