November 2, 2009 RI Hospital fined $150,000 in wrong-site surgery

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - State health officials have fined a Rhode Island hospital $150,000 and ordered it to install video cameras in its operating rooms after it had its fifth wrong-site surgery since 2007.

In a letter sent Monday to Rhode Island Hospital, State Health Director David Gifford says he's also ordering the hospital to assign an employee to observe all surgeries at the hospital for at least one year. The observer will monitor whether doctors are marking the site to be operated on and taking a time out before operating to ensure they're operating on the proper body part.

A spokeswoman for Rhode Island Hospital was not aware of the order and did not immediately comment.

The most recent incident involved a surgeon who operated on the wrong finger. Three other cases involved brain surgeons.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)