Medical misdiagnoses cause 795,000 American deaths or permanent disabilities each year, according to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal. But some medical experts are questioning the legitimacy of the data used in the paper, critiquing the methodology and definition of “diagnostic error.” The debate highlights the challenges of accurately capturing the prevalence…

The prospect of walking into a hospital or clinic and receiving a misdiagnosis is something that fills most patients with dread. An incorrect medical assessment can be a hassle, even in the best case scenario. At the other end of the spectrum, diagnostic errors can be expensive, dangerous, and even deadly. This is, however, a…