According to a report in the Sunday edition of The Chicago Tribune, mistakes by hospital nurses are causing thousands of deaths and injuries each year.
Since 1995, at least 1,720 hospital patients have been accidentally killed and 9,584 others injured from the actions or inaction of registered nurses across the country
Investigators examined hospital records and found that the deaths and injuries were due to several causes, including:
Overdosing of drugs
Delaying of care
Performing medical procedures without proper training
Chicago Tribune staff writer Michael J. Berens reports on this issue, bringing to light some of the ramifications of cost-cutting measures around the US, which has problems with staff shortages.
Not having enough staff means covering more patients than before, as well as working longer hours. Hospitals have also been reported to encourage nurse assistants to perform duties beyond their scope of training.
The American Nurses Association issued a statement saying that there is a crucial need for research to explore the relationship of staffing levels and the number of medical mistakes.
DR. MERCOLAS
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