In a study for the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), researchers at the University of Texas, the University of Houston and Harvard University analysed a random sample of 889 malpractice claims from 2002 to 2004 to find out why medical errors happen. They looked at whether the errors really occurred or were only alleged, and who was responsible, focusing on errors in obstetrics and surgery, delayed or missed diagnoses, and choosing the right medicine.
Errors involving trainees were linked with a lack of teamwork among resident doctors and medical students, and too little supervision. About 72% of errors were errors of judgement, 57% involved lapses of attention or memory, and 58% a lack of technical knowledge (the figures add up to more than 100% because several factors usually contributed).
The study is a reminder that more must be done to improve the supervision of residents and trainees in hospital.
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