The Real Injustice and Lost Chances for Restoration
In the Sept/Oct issue of the industry publication, "Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare, the founder and president of the Pennsylvania based Institute for Safe Medication Practices wrote an astonishingly biased editorial on the prosecution of a pharmacist in the wake of the preventable death of two year old Emily Jerry.
Read her mother's testimony to the Ohio State Pharmacy Board here.
Mr. Cohen acknowledges speaking to a variety of stakeholders in the case and reading transcripts and records as research for his article. He acknowledges her mother's (Kelly Jerry) impactful testimony. He never mentions reaching out to her, her attorneys, or her nonprofit healthcare safety organization (offers education to providers) to gather information for full coverage of the topic he states, is "an injustice of throwing healthcare professionals who make mistakes - even deadly mistakes - into the criminal arena when their errors were unintentional, caused by system failures and uncontrollable human factors."
Wow. If that is all it takes to absolve a nice person from justice then why do over stressed stay at home moms who have a drink at lunch get hauled down to the station for DUIs? When the soldiers voluntarily serving our country, crack on duty/in combat and commit crimes on the tour, is it really necessary to hold them accountable? After all, its the poor system that put them in that "place".
More importantly, when a trained professional does not safely perform his professional responsibilities does it help to just say - "it's the thought that counts"?
That goes against everything we learn since birth. We need to take responsibility and accountability for the actions and events that happen because of our direct involvement. When you read Ms. Jerry's statement she stresses how this pharmacist never reached out to her or her family. An injured family's and patient's interest in hearing from the involved parties is an opportunity for healing for both parties. It is a chance for restoration of the appreciation of our shared humanity.
I look forward to a discussion in some form with Emily's mom in the near future before I publish a complete article on this topic. But one thing I must mention, which Mr. Cohen fails to do in his article is that Ms. Jerry is a stakeholder in an organization that offers awareness, education and other services to providers to reduce preventable medical errors.
The pharmacist in this case has gotten six months in jail and six months community service. Emily is done. She has no more opportunities of any kind.
There are a few key principles in restorative practices that should be highlighted in reaction to preventable medical errors: accountability, responsibility, honesty, and community. Some of these have been addressed in some ways. Bu, the key will be to find a resolve WITH Ms. Jerry and WITH the pharmacist. There is unfinished business here.
I will be intrigued to follow up and see if after the pharmacist's sentence is complete if he or Emily's mom will reach out to the other.
Read her mother's testimony to the Ohio State Pharmacy Board here.
Mr. Cohen acknowledges speaking to a variety of stakeholders in the case and reading transcripts and records as research for his article. He acknowledges her mother's (Kelly Jerry) impactful testimony. He never mentions reaching out to her, her attorneys, or her nonprofit healthcare safety organization (offers education to providers) to gather information for full coverage of the topic he states, is "an injustice of throwing healthcare professionals who make mistakes - even deadly mistakes - into the criminal arena when their errors were unintentional, caused by system failures and uncontrollable human factors."
Wow. If that is all it takes to absolve a nice person from justice then why do over stressed stay at home moms who have a drink at lunch get hauled down to the station for DUIs? When the soldiers voluntarily serving our country, crack on duty/in combat and commit crimes on the tour, is it really necessary to hold them accountable? After all, its the poor system that put them in that "place".
More importantly, when a trained professional does not safely perform his professional responsibilities does it help to just say - "it's the thought that counts"?
That goes against everything we learn since birth. We need to take responsibility and accountability for the actions and events that happen because of our direct involvement. When you read Ms. Jerry's statement she stresses how this pharmacist never reached out to her or her family. An injured family's and patient's interest in hearing from the involved parties is an opportunity for healing for both parties. It is a chance for restoration of the appreciation of our shared humanity.
I look forward to a discussion in some form with Emily's mom in the near future before I publish a complete article on this topic. But one thing I must mention, which Mr. Cohen fails to do in his article is that Ms. Jerry is a stakeholder in an organization that offers awareness, education and other services to providers to reduce preventable medical errors.
The pharmacist in this case has gotten six months in jail and six months community service. Emily is done. She has no more opportunities of any kind.
There are a few key principles in restorative practices that should be highlighted in reaction to preventable medical errors: accountability, responsibility, honesty, and community. Some of these have been addressed in some ways. Bu, the key will be to find a resolve WITH Ms. Jerry and WITH the pharmacist. There is unfinished business here.
I will be intrigued to follow up and see if after the pharmacist's sentence is complete if he or Emily's mom will reach out to the other.
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