A “growing movement,” including both doctors and the relatives of those hurt or killed in operations, is advocating for putting audio and video recording devices in operating rooms to allow for greater transparency.

You can read the article here:

[Could cameras in operating rooms reduce preventable medical deaths?](http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/could-cameras-in-operating-rooms-reduce-preventable-medical-deaths/2015/08/25/fc2696c4-3ae2-11e5-b3ac-8a79bc44e5e2_story.html)

Over 400,000 people die from preventable medical errors in the United States each year, and many of those involve errors in the operating room. The story describes a legislative effort in Wisconsin aimed at mandating that every operating room in the state have cameras. Backed by relatives of victims of operating room errors leading to death, many of them wanting answers as to why their loved one died.

Unfortunately, without cameras such people are left with operative records that are oftentimes vague and written after the fact, giving no clue as to what actually happened.

A Toronto surgeon has created a “black box” which synchronizes a patient’s vital signs with both video and audio recordings. However, his aim is less about answers for victims and more about improving patient safety. “If we don’t know what we’re doing wrong, we’ll never improve,” said the doctor, Teodor P. Grantcharov, a professor of surgery at the University of Toronto.

Of course, there would be fascinating ramifications to allowing video and audio recording in operating rooms.

From the perspective of the families of the victims, there would be more evidence of what went wrong, and that would likely lead to more malpractice claims filed. As the article states, oftentimes it is difficult for a plaintiff malpractice attorney to take a case because there is a lack of facts of what happened to support a claim. The plaintiff has the burden of showing to a jury what happened, and why it was wrongful. With more data, including a simple thing like who was actually in the operating room and when, such attorneys will be equipped to bring more claims.

From the perspective of a plaintiff malpractice attorney, this is a good thing for everyone. Greater transparency will allow for greater accountability. And with greater accountability comes increased patient safety, as doctors and hospitals will be properly incentivized to create systems that reduce the amount of preventable errors leading to catastrophic harm or death.

Alternatively, many hospitals and surgeons will likely balk at being video and audio recorded during surgery. The article cites the cost of installing and maintaining complex recording systems, as well as, of course, the increase of medical malpractice lawsuits.

There are also privacy issues with such recordings, for both the health care providers and the patient.

At this point, cameras in operating rooms are limited to pilot projects and for training purposes. Soon however, at least in Wisconsin, we may have a chance to see the effects of such recordings, and whether or not they increase patient safety. Because that’s a goal patient advocates and health care providers can both get behind.