Payoff For Wrongful Death, Will That Make it Better? Aftermath Explains It

 

I just watched Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie Aftermath.  The movie is about a man who loses his family in a terrible accident that killed 271 passengers on two planes.  I’m not giving away anything that isn’t in the trailer.  A person is the cause of the accident.  A terrible mistake.  The devastated father and husband (Schwarzenegger) seeks an apology and is offered payment instead.  At some point he is offered money in exchange for a lawsuit.  The movie is based on his search for an apology.  

There are similarities in this movie to what families go through following the deaths of loved ones due to the medical care they receive.  A terrible accident because of someone’s error, a misjudgment or a system breakdown that causes injury or death is often responded to first with silence, an offer of payment and signing an order to not disclose the amount of the payment and sometimes to never speak about the incident.

Yet, many people say they want to be sure that the incident will never happen again or, no other family has to suffer as they did.  I’m not sure how that will happen when the family is paid off but of course, the attorneys need to be paid and that’s how they get paid, out of the settlement.

If you watch Aftermath, and you have experienced the loss of a family member because of the medical care they received, consider leaving a message on the similarities if you see it.  And can anyone learn from this comparison?

What is a Patient Safety Advocate? A Good Listener

Patient Safety Advocacy; Listen!

Listening can sometimes be difficult. We often think of ourselves as a good listener because we are physically present when someone speaks. But being a good listener and a patient advocate are very different.

As an advocate, we need to really listen and hear what the patient is saying and even feeling. When hospitalized, it is important to always have a notebook handy. Taking notes when the patient says something like “I haven’t eaten since noon yesterday” you will have that information available if the patient is resting and the nurse or doctor come in and ask “when was the last time the patient ate”?

When the doctor comes in to speak with the patient, always ask if you can stay. This helps keep the patient in control. Plan on taking notes as the doctor and the patient speak. The doctor will ask if there are any more questions. Ask the doctor to come back if he or she will be in the building for a little bit longer. When they leave the room, you will probably say that you wish you asked about………………. Write it down. When the doctor sticks her head back in you will be ready with any additional questions.

Listen for the patient’s worries and fears. Try to never say “don’t worry” it’s confusing to hear those words. “How can I help you to not worry?” or “what will make you feel better?” can be words that are not only more soothing, but more productive.

The patient may have underlying fears that you aren’t aware of. Help the patient to find them and address them if they can. The worries may not be about the surgery itself but may in fact be about the bills, children at home or lost time at work. By saying “don’t worry” you aren’t helping to address any of that.

Finally, listening is also about hearing what the patient says. Don’t push the patient to eat or drink if this is not your role. Be careful not to treat an adult patient like a child. When the patient says I’m not hungry and refuses to eat, this information goes back to the nurse or doctor. Usually sipping water or juice is fine. By pushing a patient to eat is to satisfy your own need to feel productive, useful or even in control. Be careful to not cross that line. You are there for the patient’s comfort and safety and not to be in control of the patient.