"New measures are aimed at making more information available to the public"
This may save your life. Please carefully read these articles by award-winning investigative reporter John Monk of The State. He points out what is and has been lacking in what should be a seamless Patient Protection Safety System. All too often mistakes happen in hospitals and outpatient surgery centers which injure and sometimes kill the patient. Now, under enormous pressure from many sources, the medical profession is being forced to confront its shortcomings. Don't think for a minute that this is all voluntary. Remember whatever picks up errors and the cause for errors may cause a doctor, a surgeon, a hospital more than a little heartburn and a visit from me, to boot.
One big problem is there is no requirement that hospitals evaluate and look into what happens if a patient is hurt in hospital, yet dies once they go home. Does that make sense? No, not at all.
Well, I say it ought to be.
The harder they look at their problems, just like as it goes for the rest of us, the better chances they have of doing their jobs better and more carefuly, the better chance they have of weeding out those who would hide their errors and malpractice, and the better chance the public would have of recovering and transitioning home more safely.
Please read John Monk's articles thoroughly, then think about them and discuss them and your thoughts with your doctors, your friends and your legislators.
We can all help make South Carolina a better, safer place.
