JCAHO defines a Sentinel Event as an event that results “in
an unanticipated death or major permanent loss of function, not related
to the natural course of the patient’s illness or underlying
condition or the event is one of the following (even if the outcome
was not death or major permanent loss of function, not related to
the natural course of the patient’s illness or underlying condition):
-
Suicide of any individual receiving care, treatment or services
in a staffed round-the-clock setting or within 72 hours of discharge
-
Unanticipated death of a full term infant
-
Abduction of any individual receiving care, treatment or services
-
Discharge of an infant to the wrong family
-
Rape
-
Hemolytic transfusion reaction involving administration of
blood or blood products having major blood group incompatibilities
-
Surgery on the wrong patient or wrong body part
