author
Helen Haskell
b. 1951
An archaeologist turned patient-safety advocate, this writer brings a sharp eye for real-life detail to her work. Her books range from an archaeological study of plantation life to practical case studies shaped by years of public health advocacy.
1 Audiobook
About the author
She earned a BA in Classical Studies from Duke University and an MA in Anthropology from Rice University. Her early published work includes The Middleton Place Privy House: An Archeological View of Nineteenth Century Plantation Life, a study that uses archaeological evidence to explore everyday life at a historic South Carolina plantation.
After the death of her son Lewis Blackman following routine surgery in 2000, she became a leading voice in patient safety. She went on to found Mothers Against Medical Error and has written widely on healthcare safety, including co-editing Case Studies in Patient Safety.
Her writing is grounded in lived experience and careful observation, whether she is reconstructing the past through artifacts or helping readers understand the human side of medical systems.