250,000 Deaths Per Year May Be Due To Iatrogenic Causes (DOCTORS/HOSPITALS)
Posted on: 09/11/2000 (SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS)
A commentary by Dr. Barbara Starfield of Johns Hopkins in the
July 26, 2000 issue of the Journal of the American Medical
Association (Vol 284) states that the health of the US population is
not as good as in many other countries, and deaths within the
healthcare system itself may account for the third leading cause of
death in the US, only behind heart disease and cancer.
The article states that 250,000 deaths per year are due to iatrogenic
causes-unfavorable responses to medical or surgical treatments.
Some examples of these causes include unnecessary medication
and surgery, infections in hospitals, and negative effects of drugs.