Diagnostic Errors Linked to Nearly 800,000 Deaths or Cases of Permanent Disability in U.S.

CRICO (Risk Management Foundation of Harvard Medical Institutions Incorporated) in partnership with Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence, conducted a study that indicates misdiagnosis of disease or other medical conditions leads to hundreds of thousands of deaths and permanent disabilities each year in the U.S.

The experts explain that diagnostic errors are typically the result of attributing non-specific symptoms to something more common and perhaps less serious than the condition that is actually causing it. However, patients should not panic or lose faith in the health care system, wrote the researchers. Overall, there’s less than a 0.1% chance of serious harms related to misdiagnosis after a health care visit. The study’s findings can help prioritize areas for investment and interventions.

Full-Text Citation

McPhillips D. Diagnostic errors linked to nearly 800,000 deaths or cases of permanent disability in US each year, study estimates. CNN. July 19, 2023. https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/19/health/diagnosis-error-study/index.html