Programs SCIDUA

SCIDUA has operated continuously in NSW since 1960, apart from a short break in the early 1980s. It was re-established under section 20 (4) of the Health Administration Act 1982 and has special privilege under section 23 of the same Act.

The SCIDUA Committee

SCIDUA's primary function is to investigate deaths that occur while under, as a result of, or within 24 hours after the administration of an anaesthetic or sedation administered for a medical, surgical, dental or like procedure.

Since its inception the Special Committee has received notification of more than 10,000 deaths. In recent years approximately 300-350 referrals are received each year. In the overwhelming majority of these cases (approximately 95%), investigations reveal that the death was not in any way attributable to the anaesthesia.

Feedback from SCIDUA

Essentially there are three ways that this Special Committee provides feedback to individual anaesthetists, the scientific community, the health system and consumers.

These are:

1. Confidential feedback to individual participating anaesthetists on their cases;
2. Submission of de-identified aggregate data for NSW to the national anaesthesia-related mortality audit collated by the Australasian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, occasional scientific papers or presentations at scientific meetings;
3. Since coming under the auspices of the Clinical Excellence Commission, SCIDUA has produced the following two publicly accessible reports. These reports have been widely circulated to the NSW health system.
   • Guide to the activities of the SCIDUA 2000-2003 - PDF ~1.0mb
   • Activities of the Special Committee Investigating Deaths under Anaesthesia 2007 - PDF ~65kb