In 2001, 18-month-old Josie King died of dehydration and a wrongly-administered narcotic at Johns Hopkins Hospital. How did this happen? Her mother, Sorrel King, tells the story and explains how Josie’s death spurred her to work on improving patient safety in hospitals everywhere.
[This is an excerpt from a speech given at IHI’s National Forum in 2002. It is copyrighted material of the Josie King Foundation. IHI received special permission to use this excerpt in this format. For more information on this speech, please visit http://www.josieking.org/.]
Discussion Group Questions
- What factors contributed to Josie King’s death?
- Think about a time when you or a loved one felt worried about the quality of care being provided. Did you feel empowered to express your concerns? What did your provider do (or what could he/she have done) to make you feel more comfortable speaking up?
- In the case of Josie King, how could the hospital and its providers have given Sorrel King more power over how Josie was treated?
- If you plan to be a clinician, what are specific things you can do to make patients feel respected and included in decisions about their health care?
Can't see this video? Read the transcript on the Josie King Foundation website.
