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Dennis Quaid: ?Frontman? for a Campaign to Improve Patient Care

By Beth Janicek

In November 2007, Dennis Quaid's 10 day old twins were given an adult dose of the blood thinner heparin at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, which essentially turned their blood to water causing them to bleed externally and internally. After 41 hours, the twins' blood finally began clotting normally, allowing them to make a full recovery. However, other babies who have received heparin overdoses were not so lucky. Not long after the 'event' Quaid learned of three babies in Indianapolis who died from heparin overdoses a year earlier.

Quaid has since become the self-described

'frontman for a campaign to improve patient care with the implementation of safe practices as simple as hand washing and the use of technologies such as bar codes to match medications to patients.'

He explained the difference in medical errors and aviation errors, by saying

'When a crash happens, it's so public.' But when a mistake occurs in a hospital, the public might never even hear about it. It is estimated that 100,000 Americans die each year because of medical errors, but like Quaid said, 'It doesn't get the same type of attention.'

Quaid produced a documentary, Chasing Zero: Winning the War on Healthcare Harm (airs April 24th, May 1st, and May 8th on the Discovery Channel), and co-wrote an article in the March issue of the Journal of Patient Safety, 'Story Power: The Secret Weapon.' He said,

'My mission today is to drive awareness…awareness of both the harm and the opportunity to save countless lives.'

The fact that Dennis Quaid is using his celebrity to bring attention to the occurrence of medical errors is admirable. I hope that his documentary will make more people aware of the problems with medical errors and will bring change in the health care industry to improve patient safety.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Beth Janicek

Full post as published by San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer on April 14, 2010 (boomark / email).