It is estimated that at least 185,000 adults in the Netherlands fall victim to serious and less serious medical errors each year. A new population survey shows that they are much more likely to experience mental, work-related, financial, religious and legal problems than others. About 28 percent suffer from severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) symptoms. The research was conducted by CentERdata, Victim Support Fund, VU University Amsterdam and Tilburg University (NETHLAB). Tilburg University reports this.
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Approximately 56 percent of victims of medical errors suffer from one or more psychological, work-related, religious, relational, financial or legal problems, the study found. In adults who have not experienced these or other potentially traumatic events, that is 19 percent.
Problems due to medical errors
The fact that those affected after medical errors have more problems cannot be attributed to problems prior to these far-reaching experiences; the statistical analyzes take into account, inter alia, the influence of these existing problems (including existing physical problems).
Scientific literature pays great attention to medical errors, but a very small number of studies focus on the problems victims of medical errors face. Approximately 4,700 people participated in the survey among the Dutch population in 2018 and in 2019. Between 2018 and 2019, 79 participants fell victim to medical errors and 2,828 participants did not experience any potentially traumatic events during this period.
Mental health, work, religion, finance and legal affairs
This is the first study, also from an international perspective, which investigated the extent to which problems among these victims are more common than with others. It is also the first study in which victims were followed for a year to see what problems they are facing. The results show that the care of victims of medical errors should not be limited to the necessary medical care, but should also focus on problems with mental health, work, religion, finance and legal affairs.
The research is part of an extensive multi-year study, part of the VICTIMS (Victims in Modern Society) project of the Victim Support Fund. The study has just been published in the authoritative peer-reviewed scientific journal European Journal of Public Health.-
By: National Care Guide
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