A recent article in Health Affairs by Jill Van Den Bos highlights the enormous cost to the health care system of preventable medical error, specifically, 17 billion worth per year. These include pressure ulcers (#1), hemorrhage following procedures, postoperative infection and numerous others. 10 types of errors are responsible for 2/3 of the total cost of medical errors. Limiting lawsuits is not the answer for the 17 billion dollar drain on the health care system. Providing better care definitely is.