Which of the following is classified as a never event?

A surgical error that could have been prevented is classified as a never event because it refers to particularly shocking medical errors that are clearly identifiable and preventable, indicating a profound lapse in safety standards. Never events are serious incidents that should never occur in healthcare settings, such as wrong-site surgeries, which demonstrate a clear failure in safety protocols and are completely avoidable with proper adherence to established guidelines.

In contrast, a routine patient check-up, a patient complaint about service, and a common side effect of medication do not fall into the category of never events. These situations do not represent serious, preventable errors of care but rather are typical aspects of healthcare operations and patient experiences. Routine check-ups are standard practices meant to maintain patient health, complaints signify areas for potential improvement, and side effects, while sometimes serious, are an accepted risk of treatment rather than a preventable error.