11 California Hospitals Fined for Medical Errors

The California State Department of Public Health has assessed fines in the amount of $25,000 each to eleven California hospitals for various medical errors and acts of negligence that violated state guidelines.  Many of the incidents in question resulted in patient deaths.

The majority of the medical errors occurred in 2008 and eight out of the eleven hospitals in question are located in Southern California.

So what’s to blame for all of these medical errors?  Namely, these hospitals, as so many others across the country, are dangerously understaffed.  This means doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are forced to work long hours on limited rest and perform procedures that they may not be well trained in.

Among the various reasons for the penalties were incidents of surgical mistakes and use of faulty medical equipment.

When hospitals are understaffed, it becomes a recipe for disaster.  The subject of medical reform should focus on these facts rather than medical malpractice lawsuits.  We need to address the cause of the malpractice, rather than the result if we ever want to see malpractice cases reduced.