While few are interested in spending a prolonged time in a hospital, most would agree that it is particularly difficult to see children with chronic conditions as patients. In addition to having to deal with an illness, the kids are also missing the little things that occur each day that make being a kid fun.

Now there is yet another negative thing for parents of children who must spend time in the hospital to be aware of. According to a new study, while overall 3 percent of children who are in the hospital face medical errors, the risk of such errors is higher for those who have been diagnosed with a chronic condition.

The types of medical errors that a child may encounter while in a hospital are not that different than those adults encounter and include:          

• Infections related to surgeries
• Adverse reactions to a medication
• Bedsores

While the thought of any child suffering any more than necessary is horrible, a senior researcher of Nationwide Children's Hospital located in Ohio, indicated that 5.3 percent is actually fairly low. For those whose children are the victims of medical malpractice this information is of little consolation. Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit may make things a bit easier for those who have had to face this.

Source: Reuters, "More hospital errors when kids have chronic ills," Amy Norton, Sept. 11, 2012