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Br J Ophthalmol 2007;91:123-124
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Patient safety and ophthalmic surgery marking: which side are you on?

  1. M M White,
  2. M Gupta,
  3. B Dhillon
  1. Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion Edinburgh, Edinbugh, UK
  1. Correspondence to: M M White Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion Edinburgh, Edinbugh, UK;s0125553{at}sms.ed.ac.uk
  • Accepted 14 September 2006

We read with interest the paper by Fraser and Adams,1 which suggested many reasons for wrong site surgery and also proposed ways of preventing it. We carried out semistructured interviews of ophthalmic surgeons (consultants and specialist registrars) throughout Scotland by telephone on their current practices and attitudes relating to preventing wrong site surgery in ophthalmology, and describe a risk-stratified approach in side marking based on individual patient factors that may encourage wider acceptance without compromising patient safety.

Wrong site surgery, although not common, may be the most devastating of all surgical errors for patients and is likely to result in claims being made against doctors. The Scottish Health Service Central Office held case descriptions for wrong site surgery only for 1996–1998 and then since 2004. During these 4 years, they …

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