[US admirer]

Wonder what the accidental death percentage per stunt team, bomb disposal personnel, fighter pilot, Alaskan crab boat captain etc is?

Dealing with sick people is inherently dangerous. The performance of medical care delivery carries risk.

How many deaths would occur without the presence or participation of imperfect doctors, who make fatal mistakes, in the population at risk for iatrogenic injury/fatalities?

Sorry to post and run but I am on my way out of the office and wanted to express a alternate viewpoint for contemplation.

[kattracks]

I believe the author wrote this with tongue firmly placed in cheek. He was trying to make a point, imo, not knock doctors in general.

[B4Ranch]

I snipped these from the full chart.

.awmAnchor {position:relative}

Leading Causes of Death in the United States As compiled from data reported by the National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 50, No. 15, September 16, 2002

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Leading Causes of Death in the United States

Note: In the yellow row, "Total Number of Deaths," the percentages answer the question, "Of the total number of deaths
for all ages in the United States, what percent was attributed to each age group."

In the white rows, percentages answer the question, "Of the total number of deaths for all ages in each 'Cause of Death,
' what percentage was attributed to each age group."

Cause of Death/Age Range	All Ages		Under 1 Yr		1-4 yrs		5-14yrs		15-24 yrs		25-34		35-44
Total Number of Deaths	2,403,351	100%	28,035	1.2%	4,979	0.2%	7,413	0.3%	3,1307	1.3%	40,451	1.7%	89,798	3.7%
Motor Vehicle Accidents	43,354	1.8%	168	0.6%	651	13.1%	1,772	23.9%	10,560	33.7%	6,884	17.0%	6,927	7.7%
Firearms	28,663	1.2%	13	0.0%	46	0.9%	377	5.1%	6,575	21.0%	5,789	14.3%	,5358	6.0%
NOTE: Firearms Statistics Include Gang Warfare, Self Defense Shootings and Criminals Killed by Police

Cause of Death/Age Range	45-54		55-64		65-74		75-84		85 and over		Not stated
Total Number of Deaths	160,341	6.7%	240,846	10.0%	441,209	18.4%	700,445	29.1%	658,171	27.4%	356	0.0%
Motor Vehicle Accidents	5,361	3.3%	3,506	1.5%	3,038	0.7%	3,173	0.5%	1,288	0.2%	26	7.3%
Firearms	3,951	2.5%	2,272	0.9%	1,941	0.4%	1,723	0.2%	600	0.1%	18	5.1%

Leading Causes of Accidental Death in the United States

Note: In the yellow row, "Total Number of Deaths," the percentages answer the question, "Of the total number of deaths
for all ages in the United States, what percent was attributed to each age group."

In the white rows, percentages answer the question, "Of the total number of deaths for all ages in each 'Cause of Death,
' what percentage was attributed to each age group."

Cause of Death/Age Range	All Ages		Under 1 Yr		1-4 yrs		5-14yrs		15-24 yrs		25-34		35-44
Total Number of Deaths	97,900	100%	881	0.9%	1,826	1.9%	2,979	3.0%	14,113	14.4%	11,769	12.0%	15,413	15.7%
Motor Vehicle	43,354	44.3%	168	19.1%	651	35.7%	1,772	59.5%	10,560	74.8%	6,884	58.5%	6,927	44.9%
Unspecified nontransport accid'ts	17,437	17.8%	572	64.9%	266	14.6%	267	9.0%	648	4.6%	895	7.6%	1446	9.4%
Falls	13,322	13.6%	8	0.9%	36	2.0%	37	1.2%	237	1.7%	303	2.6%	608	3.9%
Poisoning and Noxious Subst's	12,757	13.0%	14	1.6%	32	1.8%	45	1.5%	1,160	8.2%	2,380	20.2%	4,663	30.3%
Drowning	3,842	3.9%	75	8.5%	493	27.0%	375	12.6%	646	4.6%	419	3.6%	480	3.1%
Exposure to Smoke, Fire, Flames	3,377	3.4%	37	4.2%	290	15.9%	266	8.9%	192	1.4%	241	2.0%	402	2.6%
Other Land Transport Accidents	1,492	1.5%	2	0.2%	31	1.7%	98	3.3%	243	1.7%	212	1.8%	317	2.1%
Complications of Med/Surg Care	3,059	3.1%	19	2.2%	22	1.2%	31	1.0%	32	0.2%	85	0.7%	149	1.0%
Accidental Discharge of Firearms	776	0.8%	1	0.1%	18	1.0%	67	2.2%	202	1.4%	131	1.1%	153	1.0%

Cause of Death/Age Range	45-54		55-64		65-74		75-84		85 and over		Not stated
Total Number of Deaths	12,278	12.5%	7,505	7.7%	7,698	7.9%	11,758	12.0%	11,595	0.5%	85	0.1%
Motor Vehicle	5,361	43.7%	3,506	46.7%	3,038	39.5%	3,173	27.0%	1,288	11.1%	26	30.6%
Unspecified accidents	1,510	12.3%	1,349	18.0%	1,824	23.7%	3,678	31.3%	4,966	42.8%	16	18.8%
Falls	871	7.1%	949	12.6%	1,660	21.6%	3,841	32.7%	4,772	41.2%	0	0.0%
Poisoning and Noxious Subst's	3,061	24.9%	688	9.2%	278	3.6%	245	2.1%	184	1.6%	7	8.2%
Drowning	354	2.9%	217	2.9%	179	2.3%	156	1.3%	64	0.6%	24	28.2%
Exposure to Smoke, Fire, Flames	439	3.6%	369	4.9%	401	5.2%	472	4.0%	263	2.3%	5	5.9%
Other Land Transport Accidents	234	1.9%	122	1.6%	100	1.3%	91	0.8%	35	0.3%	7	8.2%
Complications of Med/Surg Care	295	2.4%	376	5.0%	647	8.4%	825	7.0%	578	5.0%	0	0.0%
Accidental Discharge of Firearms	78	0.6%	50	0.7%	41	0.5%	24	0.2%	11	0.1%	0	0.0%