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Discusses the prevention of surgical errors by marking patients' bodies with a pen to designate the site of surgery. Case in a Toronto hospital in which surgeons drilled a hole in the wrong side of a patient's head; Report by neurosurgeon Mark Bernstein that a full disclosure of the error was made to the patient's family, and that no legal action has been taken; Data provided by the Canadian Medical Protective Association to the Canadian Orthopedic Association on wrong-side surgery; View that disclosing errors in surgery is ethically the right thing to do.

Reports on increases in medical malpractice insurance rates in Ontario, Canada as of November, 2000. How the fees are set by the Canadian Medical Protective Association; Statement that taxpayers will cover the cost of the increase; Use of regional rating, an attempt to link fees to the medicolegal climate, to decide changes in fees.

Reports that Ontario physicians are taking money from the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) legal settlement reserves to prevent large fee increases. Expectation that CMPA fees on the doctors will rise by less than 14 percent in 2001, instead of the anticipated 50 percent; Problems involving the CMPA decision to use a regional rather than national method of setting rates; Introduction of cost-containment measures.

Mentions that the Ontario government, Ontario Medical Association, and Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) reached an agreement that ensures Ontario doctors will remain under the CMPA for malpractice coverage. Issue of regional rating and fees; Comment of Dr. John Gray of the CMPA.