Patient safety

Launch of Safe Surgery Saves Lives - 25 June 2008

25 June 2008
Washington DC, USA

Safe Surgery banner

The World Health Organization's Safe Surgery Saves Lives initiative was formally launched at a global event hosted by Dr Mirta Roses Periago, WHO Regional Director for the Americas.

The event was attended by Ministers of Health, world leaders in surgery, anaesthesiology and nursing, and Dr. Atul Gawande, the lead for this WHO initiative to reduce deaths and complications in surgery globally. During the launch there were video-links to numerous sites around the world using the new "WHO Surgical Safety Checklist" and endorsements of this approach to safety from health care associations and professional societies worldwide.

200 surgery, anaesthesia, nursing, and patient societies endorsed the introduction of safety checklists in surgery and three countries, United Kingdom, Jordan and Ireland, pledged to introduce this in all their hospitals

The World Alliance for Patient Safety was honoured that Senator Edward M. Kennedy accepted its invitation to deliver welcoming remarks for this global launch. Despite his recent health concerns, Senator Kennedy affirmed his support for this initiative, however, he was not able to attend in person. Dr Kavita Patel, Senator Edward Kennedy's chief health policy adviser on quality and patient safety, read out remarks written by Senator Kennedy.

Launch event media

To download a video file click on a link with your right mouse button and select "Save Target As..." or similar.
Click on a link with your left mouse button to launch a streaming video.

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