Medical Example of 5-Whys

Here’s a medical example of 5-Whys. Tell me what you think…

A patient had the wrong leg amputated

1. Why Patient gave consent for amputation the night before the proposed

surgery to Registrar (who was not going to undertake procedure).

2. Why Amputation site marked with a biro (wrong leg).

3. Why Registrar unaware of hospital policy on amputation sites

being marked with a skin pencil and with bodily part being fully

visible to Doctor.

4. Why the department had no induction procedures for

new medical staff working in the department.

5. Why because “we’ve never been asked to”.

I’ll give my opinion after others have weighed in.