Overview
- The Medizinischer Dienst reviewed 12,304 suspected cases and confirmed roughly 3,700 treatment errors, with about 2,800 causing harm and around 75 deaths identified.
- Auditors recorded 134 Never Events—serious, largely preventable incidents such as wrong‑site surgery and retained items—with some regional spikes, including 12 in Baden‑Württemberg and 31 in Bavaria.
- Two thirds of allegations related to hospital care, and orthopedics/trauma surgery accounted for the largest share of suspected errors, reflecting that surgical mistakes are more easily detected.
- The MD, AOK and patient advocates urged mandatory reporting of severe incidents, duties to inform patients, lower burdens of proof and a hardship fund to speed and strengthen redress.
- Experts warn of a large undercount, citing research that only about 3% of preventable harms are captured, estimates of roughly 17,000 avoidable hospital deaths annually and system costs around €15 billion.