How safe is Australian radiotherapy?

SummaryMany incidents and near‐incidents are known to occur in Australian radiation oncology departments. The vast majority of incidents are minor in nature; however, a small percentage represent major threats to good patient care, administrative structures and public confidence. A small, but regular, number of incidents result in ad hoc local and/or state committees of enquiry or tort actions, and inevitably have substantial personal and departmental repercussions. Apart from some local databases on treatment‐delivery incidents maintained by radiation therapists, no systematic data collection or analysis of treatment incidents exists for radiation oncology in Australia. The present paper argues the case for a prospective, systematic approach to the recording and analysis of treatment‐related incidents and near incidents. Major barriers to such a scheme, including fear of litigation, misuse of information and lack of understanding on the nature of an incident are discussed.