I am responding to your editorial on “reducing errors in medicine”
(1).
The article cites the United States airline fatality rate (1990-1994)
as 0.27 per 1 000 000 aircraft departures. The correct rate is 33 times
higher, 9.01 per 1 000 000 departures (2)
The authors refer to “stunning progress in safety in aviation” but
ignore general population changes in death rates.
United States death rates have decreased 39% in the last 40 years
(3). In the same time period, aviation fatality rates decreased 77%. This
two-fold differential is progress but is definitely not a tad close to
“stunning” (1).
United States death rates
1950’s 1990-94 Difference
Aviation fatality rate
per million departures (2) 39.5 9.0 -77%
General death rate
per 100 000 841.5 513.7 -39%
(age standardized) (3)
Rapid Response:
How stunning is the progress in aviation safety?
I am responding to your editorial on “reducing errors in medicine”
(1).
The article cites the United States airline fatality rate (1990-1994)
as 0.27 per 1 000 000 aircraft departures. The correct rate is 33 times
higher, 9.01 per 1 000 000 departures (2)
The authors refer to “stunning progress in safety in aviation” but
ignore general population changes in death rates.
United States death rates have decreased 39% in the last 40 years
(3). In the same time period, aviation fatality rates decreased 77%. This
two-fold differential is progress but is definitely not a tad close to
“stunning” (1).
1) BMJ 1999, 319:136-137, 17 July
2) Air Transport Association
3) National Center for Health Statistics
Competing interests: United States death rates 1950’s 1990-94 DifferenceAviation fatality rateper million departures (2) 39.5 9.0 -77%General death rateper 100 000 841.5 513.7 -39%(age standardized) (3)