Elective Left Nephrectomy in Patient Safety, Preventive & Ethics — Case | Patient Safety | SMLE Q#889
SMLE Question #889
Patient Safety, Preventive & Ethics
Patient Safety
Last updated: February 2026
A 25-year-old medical intern is scrubbed in for an elective left nephrectomy. After the patient is prepped and draped, the team positions for an incision on the right flank. The intern previously reviewed the chart and imaging and believes the planned surgery is on the left side. The attending is focused on the operative field, and no one else has commented. What is the most appropriate immediate action for the intern to take?
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