Madam, - Is The Irish Times interested in medical "errorism" or journalistic terrorism? The allegation that 2,000 patients (about six a day) die annually in Irish hospitals because of medical errors is frightening and extremely serious - if it is true! Mary Raftery, (January 13th) states that the Department of Health accepts this figure and suspects it could be worse.
Could she please inform us who in the Department made this statement and on what basis? Where are the corroborated data for such a serious allegation? Where are the audit analyses, post-mortem results or inquest verdicts to support medical "arrogance, denial, blame" of these figmental figures.
The medical profession does certainly need to address medical errors, but on a factual basis. Prime Time and Ms Raftery use extrapolated estimates (which are not statistics) as a drunkard uses a lamppost - to support a staggering opinion rather than to throw light on anything. - Yours, etc.,
Prof DENIS G. GILL, Royal College of Surgeons, St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.