Common causes include misidentification or lack of patient identification, particularly among outpatients.
Outpatient numbers have increased significantly in recent years. These patients often move between departments when being seen, which can potentially result in a mix up.
Another typical cause is misinterpretation of clinical letters, notes, or reports, resulting in the wrong site being marked during surgical preparation.
The mistake may be a result of a single error but is often due to the systematic failure of a healthcare organisation’s processes.
What is an example of wrong site surgery?
There are many ways wrong site surgery can occur. Common examples include:
• an angiogram for the wrong patient
• an unnecessary injection or biopsy
• removal of the wrong limb or organ
• an incision into the wrong limb or part of a limb.
