The issue focused on medical records that doctors must release for seven years after death. If medical records were released under these circumstances, researchers found the numbers would have shown deaths had been prevented in recent years.

After scientists examined medical records from patients who died between 2002 and 2008, researchers discovered doctors kept medical records long enough to document medical procedures during medical treatments they performed but didn't conduct research into how those treatments affected health outcomes. For example, studies showed doctors continued medical treatment even when symptoms became worse or doctors determined