by Jack Edstrand

Created on: May 07, 2008   Last Updated: June 24, 2008

32 cases of serious miss conducts by doctors and nursing personnel in the Swedish health care 2007!

"Its not important to look for scapegoats, instead we should learn from the mistakes occurred" !

Every year the health care system in the county of Vsternorrland files at least 30 complains and reports of mistakes

made by nursing personnel and doctors to the Swedish Board of Health and Welfare according to Lex Maria, a Swedish

precedent since 1937 for misconducts within all types of health care activities in the nation.
- It is not often one single person whos responsible for the mistake occurred, its rather the system the individual works

within that fails, the medical superintendent Lars Berglund points out.
To strengthen the security for every single patient the countyhospital in the initial phase of a brand new risk

analysis.

In 2007 366.000 patients visited the hospital in Sundsvall, Vsternorrland and 12000 surgeries were conducted. During

the same period of time the collected health care system in the county reported no less than 32 cases according to Lex

Maria.
- Put into proportion of the amount of treatments we conduct its a negligible small part that is reported, says lars

Berglund, whos in charge of the complains.
When a mistake or near-accident occures in a clinic of the hospital its immideatly reporter through the proper

channels, which is called the divergence system and there the incident is risk-graded.
- If the risk graduation is low it can be a matter for the nurses to discuss in a workplace-meeting. If its classified

as high risk incidents its reported to the chief of staff and clinic who demands a incident analysis, a type of damage

commission inquiry, explains Lars Berglund.

CAN TAKE MONTHS

It is when the report reaches Lars Berglund hes obligated to pass judgement and decide whether the mistake or accident

occurred will be forward to the Board of Health and Welfare. It is an estimation in every single case. Through the years

the threshold has been lowered. A complaint is also a way to get the case examined, emphasizes Lars Berglund.
Therefore it can take months from the time a accident occurs to the point when it is Lex Maria-reported.
- The quicker its dealt with the better, since people easily forget details over time. It is important that the patient

gets an answer as soon as possible, many may be of the apprehension that the hospital is trying to cover up its on

mistakes when the desicison is delayed, says Lars Berglund.

IMPORTANT THAT EVERY MISTAKE IS

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