Medical service: 176 treatment errors in Saxony

The Medical Service of Saxony identified 176 treatment errors last year. This means that a corresponding error was registered in just under a third of the assessed cases (28.7 percent), the Medical Service announced. In total, the experts had to examine 614 cases. In 2023, 200 treatment errors had still been registered.

Treatment errors in all specialist areas

In 18.4% of cases, the experts registered a direct link between the treatment error and damage to health. The treatment errors occurred in all specialist areas: The spectrum ranged from general medicine to orthopaedics and trauma surgery, gynaecology, visceral surgery and dentistry.

The figures only showed a small sample, it said. Numerous cases still remain undetected - for example because they were not recognized by patients and therefore not reported. "Our expert opinions help those affected to better understand the course of their illness and, if necessary, to examine claims for compensation," said Katrin Richter, a specialist in the field.

Nationwide, the Medical Service identified 3,731 treatment errors in patients last year. In three quarters of cases (76 percent), this resulted in damage to health, as the health insurance companies' experts announced in their annual report.

According to the Medical Service, the figures are not representative. They only reflect a small proportion of actual treatment errors, as these are not recorded centrally in Germany. The number of unreported cases is significantly higher.

In the event of suspicion, patients can contact their health insurance provider, who will then commission the relevant expert reports from the Medical Service. Patients do not incur any costs as a result.

Errors cause suffering as well as high additional costs

Treatment errors not only cause suffering for the injured patients, they also have a health economic impact on care: This is because follow-up examinations and further interventions, including repeat operations, may be necessary after a treatment error. In addition, costs can arise due to loss of work, disability or the need for care.