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Medical Errors

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Re “Attacking Roots of Medical Errors,” editorial, Jan. 30: When medical errors kill up to 100,000 patients and cost $29 billion, why aren’t the media investigating the performance of the state medical boards? What action have they taken?

My wife was misdiagnosed as having carpal tunnel syndrome. It was in fact a brain tumor. Before the operation, the doctors did not read the pre-op lung X-ray. It identified the cancer and should have canceled the operation. The result was an operation she never recovered from that diminished and shortened her life. We could have easily won a lawsuit, but it would have burdened her more in her final days.

Instead, I filed a complaint with the California Medical Board, whose letterhead proclaims it is a consumers’ service agency. After investigating for over a year, the letter of conclusion said: “Your wife underwent unnecessary surgery and delay in treatment.” But no action was taken. The head of the department wrote that the case did not warrant taking the doctor’s license and the law does not allow even “a warning or sanction letter.” Sound like the AMA lobby here?

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I don’t admire all lawsuits but thank God for those that pursue justice in the courts.

WILLIAM CULHANE

Huntington Beach

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Hats off to Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) for introducing legislation to fund a federal study to help prevent medical errors. My father died as a result of such an error. I hope that this study will include both private and public medical centers. The time has long passed that doctors are allowed to bury their mistakes.

MAXINE FLAM

North Hollywood

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