Wrong-site surgery, suicide top Joint Commission sentinel event list

Wrong-site surgery, suicide, and operative/postoperative complications topped The Joint Commission’s latest tally of most frequently reported sentinel events, according to the May Joint Commission Online. The accreditor has reviewed 5,901 sentinel events since it began maintaining its database in January 1995 through March 31, 2009.

A total of 6,036 patients were affected by the events, with 4,132 (68%) resulting in patient death. The rest of the top 10 sentinel events over the last 14 years are medication error, delay in treatment, patient fall, unintended retention of foreign body, assault/rape/homicide, patient death or injury in restraints, and perinatal death or loss of function.

Understanding Universal Protocol and Wrong-site, Wrong-procedure or Wrong-patient surgical errors

Wrong-site surgery, suicide top Joint Commission sentinel event list

Wrong-site surgery, suicide, and operative/postoperative complications topped The Joint Commission’s latest tally of most frequently reported sentinel events, according to the May Joint Commission Online. The accreditor has reviewed 5,901 sentinel events since it began maintaining its database in January 1995 through March 31, 2009.

A total of 6,036 patients were affected by the events, with 4,132 (68%) resulting in patient death. The rest of the top 10 sentinel events over the last 14 years are medication error, delay in treatment, patient fall, unintended retention of foreign body, assault/rape/homicide, patient death or injury in restraints, and perinatal death or loss of function.



Are you one of the many patients who every year experience a medical mistake that seems so obvious you can't believe it happened to you? Did they operated on the wrong site or do the wrong procedure or worse yet operate on the wrong patient. We have experience litigating these cases and can help you. It's really pretty straight forward. Don't talk with the doctor or hospital’s insurance company representative. They aren't there for you. If you are the surgical patient it's important you understand the time-out procedure and how it's supposed to be used. Lombardi Law Firm has been studying this issue and we have represented clients involved in wrong-site surgeries.

Remember there are three types of surgical mistakes that the time-out is supposed to prevent. 1. Wrong-site surgeries. 2. Wrong-patient surgeries. 3. Wrong-procedure surgeries.  If this happens to you contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim.  Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.

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