Munich (AP) — the number of medical malpractice in Germany is estimated by experts at around 400,000 cases. CEO Helmut Platzer, the AOK Bayern on Monday in Munich pointed out. Since September 2000 44 patient consultant support insured persons in cases of suspected existence of treatment failure in the AOK Bayern according to the. The patient adviser had been since then faced with 7 378 suspected treatment failures, reported Platzer. Of cases (around 20 per cent) to the medical service of health insurance (MDK) to build a detailed opinion went about 1 500. In every fourth this peer review cases was confirmed the suspicion of treatment failure. In most cases, the patients would then civilly prosecute a compensation, reported Platzer. Even with the nursing staff, it comes again and again to handling errors. The AOK wants therefore attention will increasingly also to this area. In serious cases, substantial sum of damages can be recovered, said Robert Schurer by the AOK Directorate in Munich. He reported the case of a man, in which a clinic a perforated gall bladder did not recognize a stomach infection diagnosed after his briefing and dismissed him. After the operation but made only at the second instruction, it came to considerable complication, which made the 41-year-old man unfit for work and need of care. In a court settlement compensation the man had been granted EUR 450 000, Schurer said.