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Canadian Medical Association Journal logo

Surgical Black Box May Sew up Malpractice Cases

Surgical Black Box May Sew up Malpractice Cases

Canadian Medical Association Journal
Canadian Medical Association Journal
August 11, 2015
August 11, 2015
Image of an OR Black Box in an operating room
Image of an OR Black Box in an operating room

Image Source:

Image Source:

Surgical Safety Technologies

https://hospitalnews.com/

Researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto are testing the OR Black Box® - technology designed to enhance patient safety and surgical performance. The system uses cameras, microphones, and sensors to document critical aspects of an operation, such as physiological data, environmental conditions, and key procedural events. The aim is to objectively reconstruct surgeries to identify errors, improve team performance, and prevent future mistakes.

However, the potential use of this data in medical malpractice lawsuits raises concerns. While some see it as a way to protect both patients and surgeons by providing an unbiased account of events, others worry it could fuel litigation.