Medical errors: Greens attest to government passivity

The Greens are calling on the Saxon government to pay more attention to medical treatment errors. Those affected do not want to hear political excuses, explained Thomas Löser, member of the state parliament. "If 176 people in Saxony have demonstrably been victims of medical errors, the state government must not turn a blind eye to this issue."

No systematic recording of medical errors

According to Löser, Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) referred to existing instruments such as quality checks, complaints offices and internal reporting systems in hospitals in her answer to a minor question. However, there is no nationwide, systematic recording of serious treatment errors. "It also remains unclear how findings from audits are actually evaluated throughout the state and used for prevention."

614 expert opinions in 2024 - one in three cases of errors with damage

Köpping had pointed out that the Medical Service publishes figures on treatment errors on its website - most recently at the end of October. The data referred to the year 2024, according to which experts from the Medical Service of Saxony had prepared 614 expert reports on allegations of treatment errors. In every third case (28.7 percent), an error with damage was confirmed. They occur in all specialist areas - from general medicine to orthopaedics and trauma surgery, gynaecology, visceral surgery and dentistry, it said.

"Our expert opinions help those affected to better understand the course of their illness and, if necessary, to examine claims for compensation," explained Katrin Richter, specialist at the Medical Service.

The expert opinion figures only show a fraction of the actual incidence of errors, it continued. Many treatment errors remain unknown because patients do not recognize them as errors and are therefore not accused of them. In Germany, treatment errors are not recorded centrally.

In the event of possible treatment errors, the Medical Service is called upon

If insured persons suspect a treatment error, they can contact their health insurance company, which can commission the Medical Service to draw up an expert report. The experts then clarify whether an error has caused damage to the insured person. Only then are patients entitled to compensation. The insured person does not incur any costs as a result of the expert opinion.