9/11/2026
I recently read a disturbing article about medical errors.
A 2016 Johns Hopkins article reported on a study by patient-safety researchers who estimated that more than 250,000 deaths per year in the United States might be associated with medical errors. The researchers arrived at an estimate of 251,454 deaths by analyzing four earlier studies of deaths associated with medical care and extrapolating their findings to U.S. hospitalization data from 2013.
The researchers argued that medical errors were not adequately captured in official U.S. mortality statistics because death certificates generally do not have a separate category for medical error. They suggested that medical errors could therefore rank among the leading causes of death.
Importantly, the article does not portray medical errors simply as individual doctors being careless or incompetent. The researchers emphasized systemic problems, including poorly coordinated care, fragmented healthcare systems, inadequate safety nets, and variations in medical practice.
The key message is:
Medical harm may be undercounted in official statistics, and improving patient safety requires improving healthcare systems. Patients can be harmed by failures in the healthcare system even when nobody intends to cause harm.
What does this mean for ordinary people?
I see several practical lessons.
1. Don't be a passive patient.
Actively participate in your own care.
If a doctor recommends a test, procedure, or medication, it is reasonable to ask:
What exactly is this test looking for?
What are the alternatives?
What are the benefits and risks?
What happens if I don't do it?
When will I get the results?
Who will follow up with me?
A good doctor should not be offended by reasonable questions.
2. Keep your own medical records.
This may be one of the simplest things an ordinary person can do.
Know your medications, allergies, major diagnoses, previous surgeries, test results, and important family medical history. Don't assume that every doctor you see has the complete picture.
This becomes especially important when you see multiple specialists.
3. Don't assume that “someone will follow up.”
This may be one of the most practical lessons.
Have knowledge of your test results. If you have an abnormal test, biopsy, scan, or blood test, know what happens next and when. If you haven't heard anything by the expected time, call.
A test being performed is not the same as the result being reviewed and acted upon.
4. Bring another person when something important is happening.
For a major diagnosis, surgery, complicated treatment, or difficult medical conversation, having another person with you can be extremely helpful.
Two people may remember more than one, and a second person may think of a question you didn't think to ask.
5. Make sure everyone has your current medication list.
Medication errors are one area where patients can sometimes provide an additional layer of safety.
Keep an updated list of your medications, including dosages, and bring it to appointments when appropriate. For a new doctor or a hospital admission, having the actual medication bottles can also be helpful.
6. Speak up when something doesn't make sense.
If one clinician tells you something that seems inconsistent with what another clinician has told you, don't simply assume that someone else will resolve the discrepancy. Ask:
“These two things don't seem to match. Can you help me understand which one is correct?”
It is being an engaged patient.
Finally, healthcare is a team activity, and the patient is a member of the team.
Doctors bring medical knowledge. Nurses, pharmacists, technicians, and other healthcare professionals bring their own expertise. But patients bring something no one else has: knowledge of their own body, history, symptoms, medications, and what has happened to them.
Ask questions. Keep records. Follow up. Speak up when something doesn't seem right.
You don't have to be a doctor to be a safer patient.
