Each year approximately 98,000 patients die in the USA because of preventable medical errors.  This number is equivalent to a jumbo jet full of passengers crashing every other day. 

     Medical negligence is attributable to preventable errors by physicians, nurses, or technicians.  The most common causes for medical negligence are lack of comptetency, poor communication between health care providers, failure to review tests and patient charts, errors in using medical machines and devices, unfamiliarity with current standards, and misinterpretation of tests.

     JAMA 2016 Aug 16;316(7):698-700