Sabine Vasseur

A study of orthopedic claims at the Fund for Medical Accidents showed that the most common errors made are the performance of unindicated treatment, technical errors, late intervention and failure to provide information. The physician can consider different treatment methods, if they can justify the deviation from the guidelines. Technical errors can be reduced by following instructions regarding the material, in addition to having a solid knowledge and skills. If urgent treatment is indicated, the physician is making a mistake in adopting a wait-and-see attitude. A written informed consent, with a standardized and individualized part, preceded by a conversation, could improve the transfer of information. Since errors usually have a multifactorial origin a systematic and retrospective approach is needed to identify the causes and to determine measures for prevention, e.g. ensuring communication between all parties involved, well-maintained medical records, procedures and checklists.