To err may be human, but when a medical error puts a child in jeopardy, mere mistakes take on a whole new meaning. Just ask Ilene Corina, mother of three, one of who passed away at age 3 from complications after undergoing a tonsillectomy. The experience left her devastated, confused and angry, especially at the lack of communication from the medical community following the death of her son.

"My son was left to bleed to death while trying to get someone in health care to recognize that something was wrong," Corina says. "A mistake? To say the least. But buried with the rest of them never to be talked about again? I don't think so. Did you ever wonder how many children bleed to death from tonsillectomies? I do, every day – but no one knows because no one is keeping track."

Corina's frustration stems from what she feels is a lack of communication and a lack of action from the medical community and the community at large. A 1999 report by the Institute of Medicine estimates up to 98,000 patients die each year in U.S. hospitals as a result of medical errors.

"But one guy goes on an airplane with an explosive device in his shoe and the whole airline industry changes and we take our shoes off when going on a plane so we are protected," Corina says. "He didn't even hurt anyone."

So Corina did something about it. She became a patient safety advocate and the president of PULSE (Persons United Limiting Substandards and Errors in Health Care). PULSE is a nonprofit organization working to improve patient safety and reduce the rate of medical errors using real-life stories and experiences. Corina believes, as many others do, that one of the best ways to prevent medical mistakes from happening is open communication about the ones that have already happened.

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