74 deaths in NHS 'were avoidable' The deaths in NHS care of 74 people with learning disabilities could have been avoided and were a result of institutional discrimination, a charity claims in a report. Mencap blamed the deaths, which occurred over the past 10 years and were uncovered in an investigation last month, on the failure by health professionals to provide adequate care. The report, Death by Indifference: 74 Deaths and Counting, also concluded staff were failing to abide by disability discrimination law. Chief executive Mark Goldring said there were likely to be many more cases.