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Sentinel Events Program

 

 In 1996 it was identified that at least 4500 Australians died in public and private hospitals every year due to preventable causes. The institution of the Sentinel Events Program, the results of which are reported in the Age yesterday, touches the surface of this problem. If this number of Australians died in plane crashes each year (10 fully laden jumbo jets) all planes would be grounded.

Of course the problem is very complicated, not least by the culture of blame and our adversarial medical indemnity system, but so little is being done that 9 years after we were made aware of the problem we see this tiny program as progress. It’s time the State and Federal Governments gave this issue the priority it deserves and gave our patients the safety they deserve.

 

Published in  The Age  Tuesday, 18 January 2005

Dr Tim Woodruff