Germany Moves Toward Mandatory Disclosure of Medical Errors

Germany is preparing to introduce mandatory disclosure rules for medical errors, following renewed calls from health insurance medical experts who warn that preventable treatment mistakes are causing widespread harm and massive financial losses.

The Medical Review Board of Germany’s statutory health insurance funds has urged authorities to require doctors and healthcare institutions to proactively inform patients whenever treatment does not go as planned.

Speaking to German media outlet Deutschlandfunk, the board’s head, Stefan Grönemeyer, said there is currently no obligation to notify patients if medical care deviates from the intended course, a situation he said must change.

According to the board’s annual report for 2024, nearly 3,700 treatment errors were identified last year. In around 2,800 cases, or 76 percent, patients suffered health damage, with roughly one-third of those injuries becoming permanent.

Grönemeyer said mandatory transparency would strengthen patient trust and reduce long-term harm. 

He also proposed the creation of a compulsory digital register for so-called “never events”, serious incidents that should not occur under any circumstances, such as operating on the wrong part of the body or leaving surgical instruments inside a patient.

He stressed that the goal is not legal or criminal prosecution, but prevention. A simple reporting system, he argued, could significantly reduce suffering and improve safety standards across the healthcare system.

The Medical Review Board assesses potential treatment errors on behalf of Germany’s public health insurers. Grönemeyer described the financial impact of avoidable medical mistakes as enormous, citing international studies suggesting that up to 15 percent of total healthcare spending is linked to preventable harm.

In Germany, total healthcare expenditure reached €327 billion last year. Experts warn that without stronger accountability and transparency, both patient safety risks and costs will continue to rise.

The proposed reforms would align Germany with growing international efforts to improve medical safety through openness, data collection and early intervention, as pressure mounts for a healthcare system that prioritizes patient rights alongside clinical efficiency.