[Fatal cases related to medical treatment]

We have assessed the volume and nature of fatal misadventures related to medical treatment. We have also studied the existing regulations regarding the reporting of such deaths. Autopsy reports from 4,819 forensic cases from 1986 to 1995 were reviewed. 42 deaths were found to be related to medical treatment. The Department of Pathology at the Gade Institute covers a population of approximately 600,000 to 700,000. This constitutes somewhere between 6.0 and 7.0 fatal therapeutic misadventures per million inhabitants per year. Similar numbers have been found in comparable studies from other countries. Traumatic lesions caused by intravascular catheters and by surgery were the most frequent causes of fatal misadventures. 14 of the 42 cases were attributed to negligent conduct. All parties will clearly benefit from increased awareness with regard to therapeutic misadventures. In time, this may lead to a reduction in the number of such deaths.