[Errors in the diagnosis of malignant tumors during the prehospital stage].

A group of experts from The P. A. Herzen Research Institute of Oncology reviewed 6000 histories of cancer. The analysis showed errors by outpatient hospital staff to account for untimely diagnosis of cancer in the majority of cases of advanced disease. A classification of medical errors was developed. Objective and subjective factors leading to errors were analysed. Review of records of diagnostic data is suggested. It is also suggested that physicians should bear responsibility for errors in oncology which have grave consequences.