Patient safety in the operating room at a governmental hospital.

Background: Patient safety is a fundamental principle of healthcare; it is a new healthcare discipline that emphasizes the reporting, analysis, and prevention of medical errors that often lead to adverse healthcare events.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to aid any hospital in attaining better quality of patient care in the operating room (OR) by achieving patient safety according to the WHO safety guidelines. Specific objectives include the assessment of patient safety status in OR, the identification of hazards, and the assessment of risks that jeopardize this safety.