The November AARP Bulletin edition contains an article that speaks of the many deaths and even more injuries that are a result of medical error. This is an alarming article that showcases four deaths of individuals who ultimately lost their lives secondary to inappropriate medication ordering and administration, misdiagnosis of deadly diseases and delayed treatment and surgery of diagnosed disorders.These casualties range in ages from a 13 month old little girl, a 15 year old male, to two women in their 70's. Regardless of age or diagnosis, each of these individuals deserved to have their conditions treated in a timely manner and receive adequate care. They did not deserve to be left to die painful and preventable deaths when they had gone to a place that was supposed to be their advocate and provide a reasonable standard of care that should have prevented those deaths.
With the number of 98,000 deaths per year quoted by some organizations and 120,000 quoted by others, this number can most certainly hit home in Enid. I believe that those of us in the community who may have been damaged by inappropriate care should come together and form a task force in this community to demand reform of a system that has let us down in the past. There must be accountability, and the only way that will happen is if we as a community require it. The families in the above article are working hard to prevent other needless deaths. They are an example to us; we need to follow their lead to protect those patients who come afer these needless deaths.
We can gather together as a community for this end. There is strength in our unity. Please help us do what is right.
Earline Cox
Tacoma, Wash.
