The collective management of risk from surgical devices and implants - 29 Downloads
The collective management of risk from surgical devices and implants
Mr David A Rew, TD, MA, MB, MChir, FRCS
Director of Communications, ASGBI
INTRODUCTION
Surgery has a problem. As manufacturing and technology has contributed to the huge expansion in the range and complexity of surgical procedures, devices and implants, so the risks to patients have escalated. These risks often go unrecognised, unreported and unmet until late in the day, and sometimes only when a media storm is raging.
We have, so far, failed to develop a culture where the early reporting of the risks, errors, problems and complications with device and implant use is perceived as necessary, acceptable and the norm. We have also failed to use available information technologies to adopt a simple, efficient, timely, universal and trusted reporting and surveillance system. These failures are undoubtedly causing unnecessary morbidity, and even mortality, to significant numbers of patients in the UK and worldwide, and avoidable costs to health care systems.
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