Fatality Reports Warn Coronavirus One of the Main Reasons for American Fatalities in 2020
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) oversees the National Vital Statistics System. This responsibility includes keeping track of the leading causes of death in the United States.
What is a Leading Cause of Death?
According to the NCHS, a “leading cause of death” is one of the most frequently occurring causes of death as confirmed by public health records. These are categorized and ranked into reports on both the national and state levels.
We have discussed leading causes of death before, see:
- Accident Injury is Number 1 Cause of Death – New CDC Study (accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans 30 years old and younger); and
- Medical Malpractice: Injury or Death from Medical Devices (studies fail to include medical errors in calculation of leading cause of death).
National Top Ten Leading Causes of Death per CDC
According to the CDC/NCHS’s latest reports, using 2017 data, the Top Ten leading causes of death in the United States overall were:
- Diseases of heart
- Malignant neoplasms
- Accidents (unintentional injuries)
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases
- Cerebrovascular diseases
- Alzheimer disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Influenza and Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis
- Intentional self-harm (suicide).
Illinois Top Ten Leading Causes of Death per CDC
According to the CDC/NCHS’s latest reports, the Top Ten leading causes of death in the State of Illinois were:
- Diseases of heart
- Malignant neoplasms
- Cerebrovascular diseases
- Accidents (unintentional injuries)
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases
- Alzheimer disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis
- Influenza and pneumonia
- Septicemia.
Indiana Top Ten Leading Causes of Death per CDC
According to the CDC/NCHS’s latest reports, the Top Ten leading causes of death in the State of Indiana were:
- Diseases of heart
- Malignant neoplasms
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases
- Accidents (unintentional injuries)
- Cerebrovascular diseases
- Alzheimer disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis
- Septicemia
- Intentional self-harm (suicide).
COVID-19 as a Leading Cause of Death in 2020
Illinois’ respected safety advocates at the National Safety Council (NSC) in Itasca predict COVID-19 will rank as the third (3rd) leading cause of death in 2020, surpassed only by fatalities due to heart disease and cancer. Read, “COVID-19 on Pace to Become Third Leading Cause of Death in 2020,” published by the National Safety Council on August 18, 2020.
The NSC statistics show “confirmed and probable” COVID-19 deaths exceed 170,000 at this time, leaving several months left before a final tally of 2020 Coronavirus fatalities. Accordingly, the NSC is projecting that COVID-19 will be the third leading cause of death in the United States in this unprecedented pandemic year.
From the NSC:
“In a little more than six months, COVID-19 has claimed more lives than accidental drug overdoses, motor vehicle crashes and falls combined during 2018. In addition, COVID-19 is having an impact on preventable deaths, with increases in opioid overdose and motor vehicle fatality rates as an indirect consequence of the pandemic.”
USAFacts: Confirmation of COVID-19 as a Leading Cause of Death in 2020
Meanwhile, USAFacts, which describes itself as “a not-for-profit, nonpartisan civic initiative providing the most comprehensive and understandable source of government data available,” confirms the NSC prediction. Its data comes from state and local sources because their researchers explain this information as being more accurate than the data initially provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to their findings, around 9.2% of all deaths in this country during the current year have been caused by COVID-19.
In an updated report published on August 17, 2020 entitled “Top causes of death in the United States: Heart disease, cancer and COVID-19,” USAFacts explains:
“Coronavirus is one of the three leading causes of death since February, when the nation had its first death from COVID-19. The virus has killed more than 113,000 people since then, making it a leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer.”
Tobacco Use as Leading Cause of Death (480,000 per year)
Another scholar warns these statistics fail to consider smoking as a cause of death when calculating their numbers. This month, BMJ Associate Editor Dr. Douglas Kamerow published the caveat that “even in the pandemic, don’t forget tobacco.” Kamerow, Douglas. “The leading cause of death in the US.” BMJ 370 (2020).
According to his findings, smoking has been confirmed as the leading cause of death in the United States since 1993. The CDC tallies over 480,000 deaths each year to tobacco use. Accordingly, posits Dr. Kamerow, even if COVID-19 fatalities exceed 300,000 by year’s end, the Coronavirus will not exceed tobacco use — and specifically smoking — as our nation’s leading cause of mortality.
Medical Errors as Leading Cause of Death (440,000 per year)
As we have warned before, medical errors or medical malpractice must be considered as a leading cause of death. This has been confirmed in a July 2020 study published by the National Library of Medicine. Carver, Niki, and John E. Hipskind. “Medical error.” StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing, 2019 (updated July 10, 2020).
From their study:
The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) legendary report in 1999, “To Err is Human,” estimated 98,000 iatrogenic deaths making it the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. A later study in 2010 yielded almost twice that many deaths, at 180,000. The most recent study in 2013 suggested the numbers range from 210,000 to 440,000 deaths per year. The latter number would make it the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer.[2] However, these numbers can only be estimated because medical records are often inaccurate and providers might be reluctant to disclose mistakes.
Death Claims Available Under the Laws of Indiana and Illinois
From all these studies come the following sobering realities: those of us living and working in Illinois and Indiana are at a greater risk of death than we may realize. It is vital that victims of these leading causes of death and their loved ones understand that the state laws of Indiana and Illinois may provide them with avenues for justice when the actions of another have resulted in their tragic loss.
COVID-19 Claims
Exposure to COVID-19 is a life-threatening event and these projections warn that many will perish as a result. For more, see:
- COVID-19 Workers’Compensation Claims: Illinois versus Indiana
- Coronavirus Lawsuits and COVID19 Legal Claims in Indiana and Illinois: Wrongful Death or Serious Injury
- Coronavirus: Liability Waivers Sought to Avoid Financial Responsibility for Exposing Victims to COVID-19 in Indiana and Illinois.
Accident Claims
Preventable accidents (motor vehicle accidents, truck crashes, on-the-job falls, etc.) are another way that someone can die in a tragedy caused by the negligence of another. For more, see:
- Preventable Fatal Accidents at All Time High Per 2017 NSC Injury Facts Report
- Government Deregulation Increases Risk of Severe or Fatal Injury in Indiana and Illinois
- Greatest Dangers for Deadly Traffic Accident in Illinois and Indiana According to 2020 Roadmap Report.
Medical Malpractice Claims
Medical malpractice is a particularly horrific cause of a patient’s passing, since that victim and their loved ones trust providers not only to heal, but to do no harm. For more, see:
- Military Medical Malpractice Claims in Illinois or Indiana
- Medical Malpractice: Injury or Death from Medical Devices
- Hospital Malpractice: Patient Deaths during Hospital Stay in Indiana or Illinois
- Medical Malpractice in Illinois and Indiana: Botched Surgeries, Nursing Home Neglect, and More.
Aggressive Defense to Death Claims for Justice
In these situations, it is also important to recognize and expect defense challenges to taking responsibility. For instance, smoking as a leading cause of death correlates to another study we recently discussed, where the finger has been pointed at certain types of construction workers who smoke (e.g., roofers, carpenters, etc.) as exhibiting “health risk behavior.” Likewise, COVID claims will meet with aggressive denials of liability.
We all need to be aware of the daily dangers we face as we go about our daily lives, especially in these unprecedented times. Claims for justice are available for those who have been wronged and suffered tragic, deadly consequences. Please be careful out there!
