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Medical Service reports high numbers of medical errors in Germany
The Medical Service (Medizinischer Dienst) has released its 2025 statistics regarding medical errors in Germany. Out of 11,735 expert reports reviewed, 3,098 cases confirmed medical errors that resulted in health damage. In 2,700 of these instances, the error was the direct cause of the damage, and 97 cases were linked to patient deaths or significantly contributed to them. The organization also identified 150 'Never Events'—serious, preventable incidents such as leaving surgical tools inside a patient or mistaking body parts.
In response to these findings, patient advocates, including Eugen Brysch of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, are calling for increased transparency. Demands include the establishment of a central register for medical errors, the creation of a hardship fund for victims, and legal changes to ease the burden of proof for patients. Experts also suggest a mandatory, pseudonymized, and sanction-free reporting system for doctors to help prevent future errors through learning rather than punishment.
Regional data also highlights the issue: in Bavaria, 608 errors were confirmed out of 1,780 reviews, while Rhineland-Palatinate reported 178 errors from 521 suspected cases. Experts warn that the actual number of errors is likely much higher due to a significant dark figure of unreported incidents.
Entities
Carola Reimann · Deutsche Stiftung Patientenschutz · Eugen Brysch · Germany · Medizinischer Dienst · Medizinischer Dienst Bund · Stefan Gronemeyer · Techniker Krankenkasse
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 12 SOURCES] In 2,700 cases, medical errors were the cause of suffered damages. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.bbv-net.de · +7 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Medical Service in Bavaria reviewed 1,780 allegations of medical errors last year. www.radioarabella.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Medical Service in Rhineland-Palatinate registered 178 medical errors last year. lokalo.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Medical Service created 11,735 expert reports regarding suspected medical errors in 2025. www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.aend.de
- [● 12 SOURCES] 150 cases were classified as serious incidents or 'Never Events'. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.bbv-net.de · +7 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Patient advocates are calling for a central register for medical errors. radioosnabrueck.de · www.berlinstory.de · www.presseportal.de
- [● 12 SOURCES] Medical errors contributed to or caused 97 deaths. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.bbv-net.de · +7 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] It is estimated that 20,000 avoidable deaths occur annually in clinics alone. radioosnabrueck.de · www.berlinstory.de · www.presseportal.de