The sentinel event policy: a response by the Joint Commission

Abstract

In this Comment, Harold Bressler, General Counsel of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations responds to an earlier article, and states that the Commission is fully aware of and concerned with the possible discoverability of hospital incident analyses related to the Commission's Sentinel Event Policy. The Commission believes that precautions can be taken to minimize the possibility that such materials will be found discoverable, but maintains its position that federal legislation is required to ensure the availability of adequate protections.