Cause of Death: Sloppy Doctors

 Time has published an article which links death to poor handwriting.  According to one report 7,000 people are killed annual as the result of prescription mistakes that  can be tied directly to the physician’s poor handwriting.

The article goes on to make the point that many of these errors can be prevented or eliminated through the use of technology.  Obviously if this problem can be solved why hasn’t that happened?  Moreover, where is the outrage? 

As I recall the death of the 3000 men and women in Iraq was at the top of nearly every newscast and political speech in the days leading up to the November election.  Those deaths occurred over a nearly four year period.  Here Time has identified a problem that is killing twice as many people each and every year yet I don’t think I have ever heard anything about it on CNN?  Maybe handwriting is not a sexy enough topic to deserve even a 180 degree look from Anderson let alone a whole 360?!?

I wonder when people will begin to be outraged by this problem?  Especially given that the fix seems so simple to effectuate. Hmmm.

Link to Cause of Death: Sloppy Doctors — Monday, Jan. 15, 2007 — Page 1 — TIME