Types of mistakes made by the 114 survey respondents
| Type of mistake | No (%) of total cases | Examples | Patient outcomes* |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Cause and effect cannot be determined. | |||
| Errors in diagnosis | 38 (33) | Failed to diagnose small-bowel obstruction in a patient with ascites | Death |
| Failed to examine and diagnose fracture in a “crack” cocaine user | Delayed treatment | ||
| Errors in evaluation and treatment | 24 (21) | Treated malignant hypertension on the ward instead of in the intensive care unit | Stroke |
| Incomplete débridement of a diabetic foot ulcer | Amputation | ||
| Errors in prescribing and dosing | 33 (29) | Did not read syringe and gave 50 times the correct dose of levothyroxine | None apparent |
| Inadvertently stopped asthma medication at the time of hospitalization | Respiratory failure | ||
| Procedural complications | 13 (11) | Removed pulmonary artery catheter with the balloon inflated | Small amount of bleeding |
| Placed central line without a follow-up roentgenogram | Fatal tension pneumothorax | ||
| Faulty communication | 6 (5) | Failed to document “do not resuscitate” order in chart and failed to inform spouse | Resuscitation was performed against the patient’s wishes |
| Failed to obtain consent before central line placement | No informed consent for a procedure that had a fatal complication | ||