Viewpoint

Here, a monthly perspective from Consumers Union on the latest challenges—and possible solutions—facing U.S. consumers today. See archived installments of Viewpoint.

Keeping patients safe

In January 2010, five-month-old Charlee Ratliff was taken to UC Davis Medical Center near her home in Rocklin, Calif., to have a hole in her heart repaired. Heart defects are frequently seen in babies with Down syndrome.

The surgery went well, but then came a series of problems: A drainage tube dislodged, and fluid built up around her heart and lungs. She received an overdose of heparin. She contracted several hospital-acquired infections. And during surgery for a possible abdominal blockage, her heart stopped. She died five days later, on May 1.

"We took her to the hospital fully expecting she would be OK, but she never left," Kimberly Ratliff, Charlee's mother, told us. "We will never understand how this could have happened," she told an advisory committee of the California Department of Public Health in December.

"This case is an unfortunate reminder that even in the most technologically advanced environment, and in spite of all appropriate precautions, it can be exceptionally challenging to manage the care of a severely ill patient," a spokesman for the medical center said.

Your right to know

In 2003, Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, launched a campaign to make hospital infection rates available to consumers. Since then, we've helped pass laws in 27 states and Washington, D.C., that require public reporting. (California released its first report seven months after Charlee Ratliff died.) This year, hospitals nationwide will have similar requirements. Soon Medicare will tie hospital payments to infection rates.

Public reports are prompting hospitals to improve, and this year President Obama announced a federal initiative to reduce infections and limit costly readmissions.

But infections aren't the only problem; 25 percent of patients are harmed by the hospital care they receive—9 million Americans a year, according to recent studies. So we've expanded our work. The Safe Patient Project pushes states to make hospitals disclose drug and surgical errors. Consumers also need access to complaints and actions against doctors.

The dedication and passion of Kimberly Ratliff and other activists have helped us expand our campaign into every state. To get involved, go to www.SafePatientProject.org.