Polio is a viral disease that affects the nervous system, causing paralysis. It spreads through direct contact with people who have the infection. The first major polio epidemic in the United States occurred in 1916 and reached its peak in 1952. Of the 57,628 reported cases, there were 3,145 deaths.
It is difficult to accurately estimate how often medical malpractice occurs because it often goes unnoticed or unreported. According to an article from the Journal of the American Medical Association, as many as 225,000 people die each year from medical malpractice. These incidents may be split into several subcategories:
The Journal of Patient Safety study says preventable medical error is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. About 7,000 people per year are estimated to die from medication errors alone â about 16 percent more deaths than the number attributable to work-related injuries (Kaiser Family Foundation).