Review Article - Reporting surgical errors: Myth or reality?

Medical errors have now been listed as an important cause of death, and are manifest in the numerous litigations that occur in the present day. Reporting of errors includes the mildest of complications like increased hospital stay to the most serious like death. A review of literature indicates that most institutions do not report serious complications due to fear of liability and loss of reputation. Interpersonal relationships between physician and patient and adequate counselling of the patient all seem to influence the patient's decision to sue the surgeon. Mandatory reporting may be necessary to limit errors but its major fallacy includes the lack of immunity of staff from litigation and public harassment.