New York residents may know that former standout NFL linebacker Junior Seau’s suicide has been linked to the degenerative and progressive brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The Hall of Famer suffered bouts of severe depression before taking his own life in 2012, and the San Diego Chargers team doctor who prescribed him the sleeping aid zolpidem, which is sold under the trade name Ambien, has been accused of gross negligence by the Medical Board of California.

A study that has been published in a medical journal has noted that in 2013, more than 250,000 people died from medical errors. Based on this estimate, medical errors may be the third leading cause of death in the United States. Hospitals in New York and throughout the country may become safer for patients as insurance companies and medical providers are increasingly examining data about errors and making changes to their policies based on what they learn.