Forthcoming Book - Preventing Medical Mistakes

Dr. Mary Sue McAslan

My heart broke that day in November of 2007 that I read the story about the medication errors that nearly took the lives of the newborn twins of the movie star Dennis Quaid and his wife Kimberly. I was devastated that an overdose of a potent blood thinner had been administered twice to those two infants. At the same time, I felt a great sense of personal frustration and pain. I am a Pharmacist who has devoted most of my thirty year career in healthcare to preventing medical mistakes.

In my book, Preventing Medical Mistakes, I have put together a three step plan that enables the patient to take responsibility for their own healthcare. These steps are:

1)    Ask Questions,
2)    Know Your Numbers, and
3)    Keep a Personal Health System.

In this book, I present real-life stories that the reader can easily understand and identify with. I point out why medication errors happen, but I also present, in layman's terms, what they can do to prevent a mistake from happening to them. I take a very basic, step-by-step approach of walking the reader through the questions that they need to ask when they are in the doctor's office. I also provide a list of questions that they need to ask their pharmacist about the new drugs that they are being given. In this book, I focus on three disease states that affect many people. These are high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. I provide a basic overview of each disease and what the patient needs to do to be sure that they are getting the most effective treatment possible.  Finally, I walk the reader through the process of compiling all of their medical information in one central location. This includes their contact information, medication list, lab tests, X-rays, insurance information, advanced directives and more.

The goal of this book is to empower the patient by providing the tools necessary to conduct effective and complete dialog with their doctors and other healthcare providers.
Other books have been written telling you what you need to do to prevent a medication error. This book tells you what you need to do and tells you exactly how to do it. Preventing Medical Mistakes is written in a simple, straightforward and informative style, using real-life stories that many people can identify with. After reading this book, people will realize the importance of taking responsibility for their own healthcare and take action to prevent a medical mistake from happening to them.