A STUDY OF DIAGNOSTIC ERRORS
Authors: R H GRUVER, E D FREIS
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1957)

Article1 July 1957A STUDY OF DIAGNOSTIC ERRORSROBERT H. GRUVER, M.D., EDWARD D. FREIS, M.D.ROBERT H. GRUVER, M.D., EDWARD D. FREIS, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-47-1-108 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe cornerstone of internal medicine is correctness of diagnosis. In recent years great emphasis has been placed on the development of diagnostic laboratory tests. However, there has been little interest in a systematic analysis of the frequency and causes for diagnostic errors. The only papers of recent date relating directly to this problem have been those by Hunter1 and by Bednar and his associates.2In the present study an attempt is made to analyze the causes for mistaken diagnosis over a seven year period at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Washington, D. C. The data were obtained from a review...Bibliography1. Hunter WS: Study of diagnostic errors in clinicopathologic conferences at Massachusetts General Hospital during 25 year period, Permanente Found. M. Bull. 10: 306-309 (Aug.) 1952. MedlineGoogle Scholar2. BednarLiskaMasekPazderkaVacekValach BKRVRV: Proper, omitted, and erroneous diagnoses, their frequency, and comparison with autopsy findings, Časop. lék. česk. 93: 345-355 (Apr. 2) 1954. MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Munck W: Autopsy findings and clinical diagnosis. Comparative study of 1000 cases, Acta med. Scandinav. Supp. 266, 142: 775-781, 1952. Google Scholar4. Osler W: The hospital as a college. Aequanimitas with Other Addresses to Medical Students, Nurses and Practitioners of Medicine, 3d Ed., 1942, The Blakiston Company, Philadelphia, pp. 315-316. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Washington, D. C.*Received for publication October 9, 1956.From the Medical Service of the Veterans Administration Hospital, Washington, D. C.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Robert H. Gruver, M.D., Veterans Administration Hospital, 2650 Wisconsin Avenue, N. W., Washington 7, D. C. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAnnals On Call - Reducing Diagnostic Error Robert M. 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