Patient Safety is the legacy of our profession and of ASA. There are countless examples of the positive impact of a culture of patient safety, especially in relationship to anesthesia and surgical outcomes. This legacy and its impact have yet to reach many patients worldwide. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), preparations are under way to develop or expand surgical capacity. Yet in these same countries, there has been little focus on developing a culture of patient safety. There have also been few commitments from governments and health care systems to invest in promulgating a culture of safety, a system of provider accountability, or basic safety monitoring and inexpensive life-saving medications. Therefore, global patient safety must be the next global agenda, and ASA and its many patient safety experts are poised to lead this effort.
The events of 2015 have translated into the era of “Global Surgery,” which...
