author
Helen Haskell
b. 1951
A leading patient-safety advocate, she turned personal tragedy into a determined campaign to help patients and families be heard in healthcare. Her work has shaped conversations about safer care in the United States and beyond.
1 Audiobook
About the author
After the death of her teenage son Lewis Blackman in 2000 following medical care, she became a prominent voice for patient safety and family advocacy. She is president of Mothers Against Medical Error and has also served in leadership roles with groups including Consumers Advancing Patient Safety and the World Patients Alliance.
Her work has focused on helping patients and families speak up, improving rapid response systems, reducing preventable harm, and supporting patient-centered healthcare policy. Profiles from patient-safety organizations note that she holds a bachelor’s degree in Classical Studies from Duke University and a master’s degree in Anthropology from Rice University.
In addition to advocacy and policy work, she has written articles, book chapters, and educational materials on patient engagement and safety. Her son’s story has been widely used in teaching materials for hospitals and health professionals, helping turn a devastating loss into lasting change.