Definition: A clinical incident is an event or circumstance resulting from health care which could have, or did lead to
unintended and/or unnecessary harm to a patient/consumer and includes near misses. Some examples or clinical
incidents to report:
• Medication error e.g. Omission or overdose
• Complications of anaesthetic management
• Infection control breach
• Fetal complications unrelated to congenital abnormality, unanticipated and/or not managed
in an appropriate or timely manner
• Complications of surgery
• Unexpected death of a mental health patient
• Delayed patient transfer / transport
• Documentation incomplete/inaccessible
• Misdiagnosis & subsequent management
• Falls
• In service acquired pressure ulcers
• Delay in recognising/responding to clinical deterioration.
• Wrong patient/ body part or side
• Delayed treatment, assessment and/or diagnosis
• Patient/Consumer absconding
• Equipment or therapeutic device problems
• Self harm
• Complications of resuscitation
• Hospital process issues
• Verbal/physical aggression by a mental health client