Safety

Failing to follow time-out policy costs anesthesiology practice

Ambulatory Safety Monitor, June 8, 2006

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A St. Louis County jury recently awarded a patient who had arthroscopic surgery performed on the wrong knee $175,000 in a malpractice case against an anesthesiology practice, according to Missouri Lawyers Weekly.

The surgery was incorrectly performed on the right knee despite black markings on the patient's left knee to indicate the correct surgery site. The patient pursued the case based on claims that personnel in the room failed to follow an internal time-out policy to verify the correct body part and side of the body before surgery.

Although the patient reached confidential settlements with the surgeon who performed the incorrect surgery and the ambulatory surgery center (ASC), she proceded to trial against the anesthesiology practice, arguing that the time-out policy applied to all surgical staff, including the anesthesia personnel.



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