MaineHealth Apologizes After System Error Incorrectly Declares Hundreds of Patients Dead

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MaineHealth has issued an apology after hundreds of patients in Maine erroneously received letters declaring them deceased. These letters included instructions for next of kin regarding estate management, according to Newsweek reports.

One recipient described the experience as deeply shocking. She explained that she had recently undergone routine medical tests with a doctor affiliated with MaineHealth but was not suffering from any serious illness, making the letter particularly confusing and distressing.

In their statement, MaineHealth confirmed that none of the affected patients were actually marked as deceased in their medical record systems. They clarified that the error was isolated to an automated estate-notification process at their Portland headquarters, which oversees Maine Medical Centre and eight additional hospitals throughout Maine and New Hampshire. The technical mishap occurred on October 20.

The healthcare organization emphasized that no patient's personal medical information was compromised in the incident. The erroneous letters began with condolences to the supposedly deceased and provided guidance on estate procedures, bearing the signature of MaineHealth Patient Financial Services. Following this incident, MaineHealth has reported a recent update to their digital records system and is currently conducting a thorough review of the automation tool responsible for generating these letters.