Wrong-site surgery: a preventable complication.

All surgical procedures have a risk of complications, many of which cannot be avoided completely regardless of the experience and expertise of the surgeon, the surgical team, or the hospital staff. Wrong-site surgery is a relatively uncommon complication that is easily preventable. The "Sign Your Site" protocol is a simple, straightforward program that requires only a minimal amount of time to eliminate the risk of wrong-site surgery, and it should be standard policy in healthcare institutions.