News and briefs: Majority of patients fret over medical errors

Three quarters of patients are concerned about medical errors when it comes to their care, according to a survey conducted by Wolters Kluwer. This high number is not surprising after looking at some of the other survey results: 30% of respondents experienced a medical error either personally or through a close friend or family member and 21% were misdiagnosed.

On a related note, many respondents say they get a second opinion from another healthcare provider or the Internet. Two-thirds did independent research using websites like webmd.com, which are becoming increasingly popular. However, just like any research done on the Internet, patients need to be aware of the abundance of false or opinionated information. Linda Peitzman, MD, chief medical officer at Wolters Kluwer Health tells amednews.com, false or misleading health information gathered through Internet research is a growing issue physicians encounter when working with patients.

“For most physicians, it’s a double-edged sword. Physicians like a well-informed patient who has the facts and knows what’s going on and can talk with them about their treatment plan. On the other hand, with the vast variety of sources out there, some patients are misinformed or find things that conflict with each other,” she says.