Medical errors kill between 44,000 and 98,000 people in the U.S. each year. More Americans die from them than from car accidents, breast cancer or AIDS. Medical errors occur when medical care does not go as planned. Mistakes can happen anywhere: hospitals, doctors' offices, pharmacies or at home. Errors happen with:

• Medicine
• Surgery
• Diagnosis
• Equipment
• Lab reports

But there is a solution to this problem - and it's right in your own hands. Patients who ask questions and become involved in their own health care are less likely to become victims of medical error.

How to reduce your risk of medical errors
The most important thing you can do is be an active member of your own health care team. Take part in every decision that has to do with your health and you'll get better results.

Prevent medication errors

• Keep an up-to-date list of your medications (including over-the-counter medications and vitamins). Bring the list to your doctor appointments.
• Let your doctor know if you have any drug allergies.
• Know what medication your doctor prescribes. If you can't read the doctor's handwriting on the prescription, the pharmacist may not be able to read it either. Verify the drug name and dose before you leave the doctor's office.
• Ask the doctor for information about your prescription. Ask how to take it, how long to take it, its side effects and possible interactions with other medications.
• Ask your pharmacist the best way to measure liquid medications. People often do not know the right way to measure liquid medications.
• Double-check that the medication you were given is what the doctor prescribed. Many medication errors occur when a pharmacist gives the wrong drug or dose.

Reduce your risk of hospitalization and surgery errors

• Choose a hospital whose doctors often perform the type of surgery you need. Research shows that patients have better results when treated at hospitals where surgeons have a lot of experience performing that type of operation.
• Ask all health care workers who have direct contact with you to wash their hands. A study found that when patients asked health care workers this question, the workers washed their hands more often and used more soap.
• Make sure that you, your doctor and surgeon all agree and are clear on exactly what will be done. Having surgery performed at the wrong site is rare, but does happen.
• Make sure that you know who is in charge of your care in the hospital. This is important, especially if you have more than one health problem and multiple specialists involved in your care.
• Before you leave the hospital, make sure you understand the next steps. Ask the doctor who took care of you in the hospital to contact your primary care doctor.Make sure you know your treatment plan, including medications, follow-up and when you can return to normal activities.

More tips to avoid medical mistakes

• Ask your doctor questions about your condition, treatment, medications and anything else you do not fully understand.
• Ask a family member or friend to be with you and to be your advocate. This may be necessary if you need someone to speak up for you when you can't. A friend can also help remember important information or write it down for you.
• Know why you are having a test or treatment. Find out why your doctor has asked for it and how it will affect your treatment decisions.
• Don't assume that no news is good news. If you have a test, ask your doctor for the results.

Related Articles Medication Safety: What You Need to Know Working With Your Doctor Choosing a Doctor Protecting Yourself From Drug Interactions

External Sources Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 20 tips to help prevent medical errors. . Accessed March 02, 2009 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Five steps to safer health care. . Accessed March 02, 2009 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Medication errors. . Accessed March 02, 2009 Jones RJ, Way LW. The patient safety problem. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2008.. Accessed March 02, 2009

This article was reviewed and updated 08-01-2009.