Honoring those harmed by medical errors

Willie Parker loved to entertain a big crowd. So when his wife, Dianne, decided to put together an event to honor her late husband and others who, like him, have died because of medical errors, she opted for an old-fashioned Fourth of July barbecue bash. Had he been there, Willie would have no doubt insisted on manning the grill.

More than 100 people, including the Cover America Tour crew, spent their Independence Day holiday at Dianne's home in Aiken, S.C., at the first South Carolina Patient Safety Day, honoring those harmed by medical errors and those working to improve patient care.

They came from all over—some from as far away as California, New Mexico, and New York, others from just a few towns away. They greeted each other like lifelong friends even though some were meeting for the first time, having built close relationships for months or even years via phone and e-mail.

A diverse group of personalities, they are all bound by the common experience of the loss or harm of someone by a preventable medical mistake: improper medication dosage, hospital-acquired infection, or botched surgery.

Errors like these are responsible for nearly 200,000 deaths each year and more than 2.6 million injuries, making medically induced harm—errors and hospital-acquired infections—the third leading cause of death in the U.S. behind heart disease and cancer.

Many of these victims, or their survivors, are now outspoken advocates for better patient protections. Helen Haskell started a support and advocacy organization called Mothers Against Medical Error after the death of her 15-year-old son, Lewis. Kim Sandstrom is writing and producing a play about the series of errors that led to the death of her duaghter. Others have written books or launched Web sites to tell their stories.

A good number had joined Consumers Union's ongoing patient advocacy campaigns, helping to strengthen laws all across the country to better protect patients. Advocates working with CU's Stop Hospital Infections campaign have achieved victory in 23 states so far by pushing through laws requiring hospitals to publicly report their infection rates. South Carolina's reporting law passed in 2006 with the help of many of those in attendance at the Patient Safety Day. Included were the Toolen family, whose lives have been permanently altered by a MRSA infection, short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus—that son Jimmy picked up during a surgery and subsequently passed on to his father.

The Cover America Tour filmed their story and many others at the event to ensure that the issues of quality and safety were documented. As the attendees of Patient Safety Day can attest, health care that is affordable but of poor quality can sometimes be worse than having no health care at all.

—Meagen Bohne, campaign organizer

Comments

[Kevin R Morgan]

In 2006 I had subtaler fusion surgery. I was told by the surgeon that I would be "completely pain free" within months. However, the bones did not fuse, the screw broke in two, and because no therapy was ordered and compression boots not applied after surgery, blood clots formed resulting in a pulmonary embolism. I almost died. The ER docs said they never saw that many clots in one person who lived. I tried to sue, but no lawyers will take my case, as it is considered to be just a "bad result". I'll say! I lost my job. For a long time, I couldn't walk or drive. Now I need to use a walker for mobility. The quality of my life has definitely diminished in more ways than I can describe.

[Laurie Davis]

The statistics for medically induced deaths for patients is staggering, but I can't help but wonder if they are under reported. My Mother died of MRSA after surgery in the local hospital 15 months after her surgery (which Iwas assured was successful) and after being subjected to multiple rounds of extremely strong antibiotics - - all to no avail. It had taken me weeks to convince the medical staff that she was in need of better medical attention and that something was wrong. It was the most frustrating, emotionally draining experience of my life because no one would pay attention to me.

She died in a nursing home 15 months after leaving the hospital, and I am sure her death was not counted by the hospital involved. I wasn't even told it was MRSA by the hospital and didn't find out until shortly before her death at the nursing home when I noticed they were segregating her clothing, bandages etc in a marked, closed container.

She was 83, but had been active, living by herself, paying her own bills, and driving her own car. I have always known that this should not have happened and live with the sadness of wondering if I could have done more. Her death was preventable and negligence caused it.

[Maureen Flanagan]

The politicians are focused on the cost of health care. It's a relief to see that this site is concerned about what the money is buying. I have started an organization that also has this focus. BoomerAlert! is a clearinghouse for what is being done to reinvent health care. Issues such as: what needs to be invented? What are people already doing to change the current model of long term care facilities? How can technology be used to make patients less dependent on the caregivers who are overworked and underpaid? The care that the elderly are now receiving is what the Boomers can except in the future and we have to make the changes now. I'm with you!

[Karen Vanderhoof]

September 21, 2003, my only child, my 20 year old daughter died, due to a medical error. She went in to a NY hospital to have her aortic valve replaced. The procedure was discussed and she signed the consent form to have this done. Instead of replacing the valve, for some unknown reason to this date, the surgeon repaired the valve instead of replacing it. Three weeks later the valve burst. My daughter suffered a heart attack and did have emergency valve replacement, by another surgeon. My daughter died 5 days later, due to the heart damage she suffered, due to the heart attack.

When we approached the cardiologist of 20 years, who referred us to this surgeon, we got just lies, as to why he repaired the valve instead of replacing it. We hired an attorney and two months prior to what he told us was the statute of limitation to sue, the attorney told us he was not taking the case because the surgeon had the right to use his judgement to do what he did. I work in a medical office and everyone who is suppose to have thier aortic valve replaced, gets it replaced.

This is a wonderful place to write, but is there anyone who can help with justice in this situation? I live everyday in pain, without my only child. My future is over, no children, no grandchildren, I have nothing and I never was told why it happened. Can someone help me? I need advice to get justice!!!!!

[Dianne Parker]

For all of you who wrote comments - if you want to get in touch with me, my email address is cdparker45@bellsouth.net - I wish you all could have been with us on the 4th of July when we celebrated the life of Willie Parker and all the patients injured or who died of medical error of infections caused by dirty hospitals, hands etc., and arrogance; I feel your pain and if you care to join me in my fight for Patient Safety - please let me know. I'll be happy to have your name on my membership list - makes no difference where you live.

God bless all everyone who has been touched by medical errors and infections -

[Ajlouny]

In response to Karen, one of your commentators, I just want to extend to you my condolences. It's a horrible thing to lose a child, especially when it could have all been avoided.