In recent years, the issue of medical errors in Europe has become increasingly prominent, affecting millions of patients and posing a significant challenge for European health systems.
Medical errors can stem from incorrect medication prescriptions, erroneous dispensation, poor preparation, and administration errors. For example, there was a recent case in a Spanish hospital where improper preparation of an anti-cancer drug led to patient deaths. Diagnostic errors are also prevalent, as illustrated by the case of an Italian woman who underwent chemotherapy for four years without having cancer. Medication and diagnosis errors are most studied, as various studies confirm.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has reported that pharmacological process errors are the main preventable cause of adverse effects. Sometimes, medications with severe contraindications, like antidepressants, are over-prescribed. These errors not only harm patients’ health but also impose economic burdens on society and the health system.
In 2025, organizations such as the World Patients Alliance and the European Patients Safety Foundation emphasized that medical errors persist in Europe. They advocate for better control, transparency, and the creation of a digital data bank to study and address errors. Establishing a safety culture among doctors is crucial, as a lack of personal responsibility, medical ego, and empathy is eroding public trust in the healthcare system. Politicians must recognize health care as an inalienable right, ensuring public oversight to prevent arbitrary decisions influenced by the pharmaceutical industry.
Case Study: A Woman’s Misdiagnosis and Unnecessary Chemotherapy
In 2006, a 47-year-old Italian woman visited Volterra Hospital for routine orthopedic surgery. Preoperative tests revealed a white blood cell alteration, leading to a referral to the University Hospital of Pisa. After bone marrow and intestinal biopsies, she was diagnosed with a Malt type non-Hodgkins lymphoma, allegedly in her intestine.
This diagnosis led to four years of intensive chemotherapy, corticosteroids, and aggressive treatments, severely impacting her work, social, and emotional life. She lost her driving license, compounding her problems.
Years later, routine reviews showed no evidence of lymphoma. The initial diagnosis was incorrect. After much litigation, the Court of Appeal of Florence found medical malpractice, awarding her 500,000 euros and a 60% permanent disability rating. The court ruled that the hospital acted without due diligence and that treatments were unjustified.
Patients should always read medication information and consult their doctor about contraindications until fully satisfied. Our health is at stake.
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