The medicolegal investigation of operating room associated deaths.

For those medicolegal investigative systems charged by statute with the responsibility of investigating and examining known or suspected iatrogenic deaths--whether in a perioperative or operative situation, or in some other relationship to medical intervention--there is usually little doubt that these types of investigations constitute the most difficult, often perplexing, and far-reaching investigation, examination, and reporting problems of any of the types of cases referred. Much of this difficulty derives from the changing attitude of the public at large, including the medical and the legal community. In the United States, as recently as 15 years ago, the loss of life or injury subsequent to a therapeutic or operative procedure, with rare exception, was accepted virtually as an act of God.