Are medical malpractice errors common?

Medical malpractice is another term for medical negligence or a medical mistake that results in serious harm or injury. According to the Institute of Medicine, 98,000 people die every year from medical malpractice. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that there were 181,000 severe injuries attributable to medical negligence in 2003. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement estimates there are 15 million incidents of medical harm each year.

Serious medical errors that result in injury are far more common than most people realize. Preventable medical errors are known as “never events.” This is because they should never happen.