What are 'never events' in the context of patient safety?

'Never events' refer to serious, preventable incidents that are of such severity that they should never occur in healthcare settings. These events typically represent significant failures in patient safety processes, often leading to devastating consequences for patients. Examples include wrong-site surgery, foreign objects left in a patient after surgery, or severe pressure ulcers that develop during hospitalization.

The characterization of these events as "never" underscores the commitment within healthcare to eliminate these types of incidents through improved safety protocols and diligent practice. Recognizing the importance of avoiding never events emphasizes the need for vigilance and comprehensive safety measures among healthcare providers to protect patients effectively.

In contrast, the other choices reflect various types of errors and complications but do not capture the specific severity and preventability associated with never events. Common complications and minor mistakes do occur in healthcare but are not classified as never events due to their frequency or because they may not always be preventable with current practices.