Wrong-site surgery results in rare fine

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Rhode Island Department of Health has confirmed to Eyewitness News that Rhode Island Hospital is being fined $150,000 for a wrong-site surgery.

During the incident, on October 23, surgeons began to operate on the incorrect finger of a patient. The mistake was discovered and the correct finger was operated on.

On top of the fine, Video cameras must also be installed in the operating rooms.

The Department of Health is also ordering Rhode Island Hospital to assign an observer to supervise all surgeries. The observer will be responsible for ensuring surgeons follow the pre-surgery checklist. That includes taking a "time out" before surgery begins to double check the correct area is being operated on.

The October incident was the fifth wrong-site surgery at Rhode Island Hospital since 2007.

This is only the second time the Department of Health has fined a hospital for a wrong-site surgery. The other fine was also against Rhode Island Hospital.

"Like the Rhode Island Department of Health, we remain committed to decreasing the frequency of medical errors including wrong site surgery. Rhode Island Hospital actively participated in the creation of the statewide uniform protocol and adopted it on July 1," Timothy Babineau, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rhode Island Hospital said in a statement.

"At Rhode Island Hospital, we remain more committed than ever to working on methods to reduce the incidence of all medical errors from reaching patients. Patient safety has always been, and remains, our number one priority," he said.