[Notification of unexpected patients' death to the police]

Controversies continue to exist in what situation the surgeons are obliged to report the perioperative patients' death to the police. With regard to this issue, Japan Surgical Society and twelve other Japanese Surgical Societies have declared that 1) patients' death due to evident malpractice must be reported to the police, 2) patients' death resulting from anticipated surgical complications need not be reported to the police, 3) an independent organization be founded for collection and investigation of medical accident/incident reports. Japan Surgical Society will take a responsibility of making a practical guideline as to the notification of accidents to the police and take a leadership in establishing the independent medical accident/incident center.