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SummaryThis is the Key wordsCrimplic~utions; death Stotisricv; records.This report concerns the continuation of the study previously reported. The assessors* considered that, having established the system for the collection and examinstion of the data in five regions in the United Kingdom, it would be valuable to continue for a further single year in order. it was hoped, not only to clarify one or two points and to refine the process. but also to confirm, if possible, the previous findings. MethodThe procedure, as far as data collection was concerned, was unchanged but there were signifi-*The two other assessors for this study. in addition to the authors were. Professor J.A. Thornton, MD. FFARCS and Dr P.J. Tonilin, FFARCS. cant modifications in the detailed information which was recorded, assessed and analysed. In summary, when a death occurred within six days of surgical operation in hospital a local anaesthetist sent a brief questionnaire to the patient's anaesthetist and surgeon. The replies, under a code number. were then sent anonymously to an Assessor in the same region who, in the event of either of these replies indicating that anaesthesia had some part t o play in the death, requested more details from the anaesthetist concerned. The study was voluntary.The form used to collect this information was much briefer than its predecessor and the questions on the form are reproduced in the Appendix to this paper.The assessor recorded the first opinions of the

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