US to probe into caused by medical error

US to probe into caused by medical error
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 8: The US government is to spend 25 million dollars to investigate why 44,000 to 98,000 people a year die due to medical error, President Bill Clinton has announced.

An Institute of Medicine (IOM) report published last week shocked the nation when it revealed "more people die from medical mistakes each year than highway accidents, breast cancer or aids" and prompted the government's move.

Speaking at a White House meeting on Tuesday, Clinton said, "This is about far more than dollars or statistics. It's about the toll that such errors take on people's lives and on their faith in our health care system."

The president said he had asked the commission on consumer protection and quality care to "set the stage for the Congress to pass a strong, enforceable patients' bill of rights," and to respond within 60 days on how to act on IOM recommendations.