PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Patient Safety Commission says at least 32 patients died as a result of preventable errors in Oregon hospitals last year.
The latest report was released Thursday. The commission was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2003 and represents an effort by the state and the health care industry to reduce serious medical errors. Fifty-six of Oregon’s 58 hospitals participate in the voluntary reporting program.
Hospitals reported 136 incidents in 2009. Half of the errors resulted in serious injury or death. In 22 percent of cases, patients suffered minimal or no harm.
The Oregonian reports that in nine cases, a surgical team operated on the wrong body part or the wrong patient. Surgeons accidentally left objects in patients 21 times.
