A review of the medical records of over 14 000 admissions to 28 hospitals in New South Wales
and South Australia revealed that 16.6% of these admissions were associated with an “adverse
event”, which resulted in disability or a longer hospital stay for the patient and was caused by
health care management; 51% of the adverse events were considered preventable. In 77.1%
the disability had resolved within 12 months, but in 13.7% the disability was permanent and
in 4.9% the patient died