Georgetown University blog - Advocating for patients (1 June 2022)

Summary

This blog describes the experience of Colonel Steven Coffee, Cofounder of Patients for Patient Safety US, who experienced a series of medical errors following the birth of his son. After a missed diagnosis of galactosemia, his son suffered liver failure and underwent a liver transplant at eight weeks old. Following his operation, the hospital where he was being treated did not have access to the powdered soy milk which was essential for his son's recovery. This experience spurred Colonel Coffee on to become an advocate for patient quality and safety in health care. For the last nine years, he has worked toward improved patient safety as the first community chair of MedStar Health’s Patient and Family Advisory Council for Quality and Safety (PFACQ).