Sixteen years ago, when patient safety was still gaining recognition as a crucial field, the European Board of Anaesthesiology (EBA) of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) took a pioneering step. It developed a declaration that outlined a shared vision for improving patient safety across the perioperative care pathway.
The initial draft of this groundbreaking document was created in November 2009 during an EBA meeting in London. It was shaped through collaboration between the EBA, the European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA), now known as ESAIC (European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care) and national delegates from across Europe. Officially launched at the Euroanaesthesia Congress in Helsinki in June 2010, the declaration quickly became a cornerstone in global patient safety efforts.
Signed by leaders such as Jannicke Mellin-Olsen (EBA), Paolo Pelosi (ESAIC), and Hugo Van Aken (National Anaesthesia Societies Committee), along with patient representatives and industry stakeholders, the Helsinki Declaration on Patient Safety in Anaesthesiology outlined essential strategies for improving perioperative care. Its message resonated worldwide, with adoption and translations spreading across Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, and the Middle East. The declaration emphasised critical risk areas and proposed safer standards, benefiting patients and healthcare professionals globally.
Now, in 2025, an updated version of the declaration, the Helsinki Declaration on Patient Safety in Anaesthesiology 2.0, was launched. The official signing of the updated ESAIC Helsinki Declaration took place at the opening ceremony of Euroanaesthesia 2025. Developed by the EBA and the ESAIC Patient Safety and Quality Committee, the revised document reflects the evolution of anaesthesiology and addresses today’s pressing safety challenges.
While the original declaration remains highly relevant, the updated version reaffirms core principles and integrates new recommendations based on current best practices. It aligns with key international initiatives, including the WHO-WFSA International Standards for a Safe Practice of Anesthesia, the WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030 and the WHO Patient Safety Rights Charter.
The updated declaration introduces essential recommendations directly impacting patient care quality and safety, particularly in light of ongoing developments in healthcare systems and technologies. Key focus areas include:
- Patient Involvement: Patients and families must be informed and actively engaged in safe care, with structured opportunities to provide feedback.
- Transparency: In the event of harm, healthcare providers must offer compassionate explanations, take steps to mitigate injury, and initiate independent investigations where appropriate.
- Staffing: Healthcare systems must ensure safe perioperative care by providing adequate staffing and resources.
- Education and Training: Patient safety training—including simulation-based learning—must be prioritised and supported with dedicated resources and time.
- Human Factors: Recognising and mitigating human factors is critical, requiring collaboration between clinical and non-clinical teams.
- Industry Partnerships: Strong, transparent collaboration with the industry is essential to ensure the safe delivery of medications and medical equipment.
- Technology and AI: New technologies must undergo rigorous evaluation with patient safety as the foremost priority.
- Research: High-quality academic research into patient safety is necessary to guide evidence-based improvements.
- Independent Investigations: Every country should establish impartial bodies to investigate patient safety incidents without assigning blame.
- Decriminalisation of Medical Errors: Errors should be viewed as opportunities for learning, not as grounds for criminal prosecution.
- Speaking Up: Staff must feel empowered to raise safety concerns, with leadership committed to responding within a just culture.
- Fatigue Management: Institutions must implement and monitor policies that address staff fatigue, a known risk to patient safety.
- Staff Wellbeing: Fostering staff wellbeing is essential for sustaining a strong safety culture and retaining a competent workforce.
- Environmental Sustainability: Sustainability efforts must never compromise patient safety.
- Legal and Ethical Safeguards: Regulations must uphold, not undermine, patient safety protections.
The updated Helsinki Declaration embodies the highest standards of care and professional responsibility. It serves not only anaesthesiologists but sets an example for all medical specialties.
Source and Image Credit: Euroanaesthesia 2025
