Almost one in three women (32 percent) and one in four men (25 percent) are afraid of inpatient hospital treatment, according to a Forsa survey. The representative survey commissioned by the Kaufmännische Krankenkasse (KKH) also shows that 81 percent of those concerned are afraid of being infected with hospital germs.
Every second person is therefore afraid of the need for a new operation and complications during anesthesia. Possible poor wound healing and poor quality of the medical devices used also play a role for around half of the respondents. Forgotten surgical equipment in the body and drug intolerance are a reason for anyone to worry. Almost every third person justifies his fears with his own bad experiences.
Many respondents would be well informed before the planned hospital stay about the disease, the treatment and the hospital. The doctor is the first point of contact for eight out of ten Germans. Three quarters of respondents would also research the Internet. Experiences from the circle of friends serve two thirds as source of information. In July, about 1000 Germans between the ages of 18 and 70 were interviewed for the study.
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In 2018, the Medical Advisory Councils and Conciliation Offices had identified 1858 treatment errors, but the figure does not only refer to treatments in the hospital. Most of the discomfort involved operations on the knees and hips, as well as interventions for fractures of the lower leg and ankle. The medical service of the health insurance companies (MDK) documented last year even nearly 3,500 treatment errors.
Anyone who suspects that they have been mistreated should not hesitate too long. After three years, the claims usually become time-barred. First, the patient should seek the interview with the attending physician himself. If he does not get any further, senior doctors or the hospital management are the nearest contact persons. In many clinics, there are central complaint offices to which patients can turn.
