Interestingly, but not surprisingly:

1) Like the hundreds of comments attached to this post (or at least the ones that I have read) today's mainstream media coverage of the Johns-Hopkins study (or at least the reports that I have seen) omits the study's admission that it understates the total "medical error homicide rate" (SEE NOTE 1 BELOW) (by not including similar fatalities at nursing homes, outpatient clinics and other non-hospital settings).

2) As a result, most people who viewed that coverage now incorrectly believe that annual medical error homicide rate is a paltry 250,000, when in fact it has previously been estimated to be nearly twice that number. See, e.g., the 2013 study reported by HuffPo, in which the total figure was estimated in 2013 to be over 440,000. (SEE NOTE 2 BELOW.)

That's like losing the 50,000 U.S. soldiers lost during the ten-year long Viet Nam War every six weeks, month after month, year after year, decade after decade.

3) A condition imposed by the hospitals submitting to studies of this sort is that findings of error cannot be disclosed to the victims' surviving families or legal representatives (who, of course, are legally authorized to access the victims' patient records, and to assert claims on behalf of their estates). Stated differently, the medical profession can be induced to examine its inadequacies only if it is first favored (bribed?) with perpetual immunity, anonymity and concealment.

4) It is unknown (or at least unreported) what percentage of medical error homicides: - Are ever disclosed to surviving families, - Lead to professional conduct investigations, and to sanctions, - Lead to claims or suits, - Go uncompensated, or unfairly under-compensated, or - Are fairly compensated, both before and after legal fees and expenses.

5) As a result we cannot know the size of the economic windfall enjoyed by the perpetrators of these homicides, their stockholders, and their liability insurers.

6) But we can make some rough hypothetical calculations. If, for the sake of argument, half of the families of the 250,000 (or more likely 440,000) annual victims of medical error homicide were reasonably entitled to a $2 million (gross) recovery, but received nothing, then the annual saved-liability windfall would be $250 billion (or, more likely, $440 billion). Year in, and year out...

7) If the true economic costs of medical error homicide, of fraudulently-evaded civil compensation for victims' families were ever known, perhaps a different light would be cast on the ceaseless whining by the medical profession, insurance industry and political conservatives about "too many" medical malpractice suits.

8) Medical and support staff who withhold or misstate the actual facts of a patient death or injury caused by medical error can (and should) be, but rarely are, prosecuted for violating state and federal wire, mail and other anti-fraud statutes.

9) All citizens can and should do what they can to reduce medical error homicide rate. For example, when victims' families can identify staff who commit, fail to report or attempt to conceal such errors, they should demand civil and criminal justice and professional conduct investigations and discipline.

10) And in cases of extreme recalcitrance by medical professionals and staff, a little public shaming should not be out of the question.

NOTE 1: As used in this comment:

"Medical error homicide" refers to an erroneous, and therefore negligent iatrogenic event that causes the patient to die. This term and its definition reflect the fact that intent to kill is not a required element of a homicide.

"Medical Error Homicide Rate" is the number of medical error homicides committed in a calendar year.

NOTE 2: Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allen-frances/why-are-medical-....

http://www.hospitalsafetyscore.org/newsroom/display/hospital....