HospitalInspections.org

Based on staff interview and review of other documents, the hospital failed to ensure that operating room staff protected a patient's basic right to be treated with dignity and respect for 1 of 3 surgical patients reviewed (Patient #1).
Failure to ensure staff were trained and supervised to consistently respect, protect and promote patient respect and dignity was a violation of patient rights.
Findings:
Patient #1 was an operating room employee who underwent minor elective surgery in a hospital operating room on 9/10/2010. Interviews with operating room staff on 12/6/2010 at 2 p.m. revealed that the procedure took place on the patient/employee's birthday. Staff (including the employee/patient) planned actions that were unrelated to the operative procedure and included polishing the patient's nails and applying temporary body tattoos. Staff carried out the plan on the day of the procedure while the patient was still asleep under anesthesia.
Interviews with staff revealed that the planning and actual activities included the physician, anesthesia, nursing and surgical technician staff. None identified the violation of basic patient rights to privacy or stopped the plan prior to the incident.
The episode was validated by staff interviews (including the patient/employee) and review of hospital records on 12/6/2010.