List date(s) this work was published or aired.
27-Jun-11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
At the heart of the story is Kimberly Hiatt, 50, a well-regarded Seattle critical care nurse who mistakenly overdosed a fragile baby with 10 times too much medication– and wound up paying not only with her job, but her life. The stress of the error unraveled Hiatt’s world, leading to her suicide in April 2011 at age 50. This story explores the trauma that afflicts nurses, doctors and other highly skilled health workers in the aftermath of medical mistakes. It examines the little-known “second victims” of medical errors, the highly-skilled professionals whose momentary lapses in skill, attention or vigilance can have devastating effects, not only for their patients, but for the health workers themselves. Aleccia found that 92 percent of doctors surveyed reported near-miss medical mistakes and 57 percent admitted actual serious errors.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Using state public records requests, Aleccia obtained and reviewed thousand of pages of electronic documents that included accounts of Hiatt’s 25-year-career, descriptions of the error, disciplinary records, and, finally, confimation of Hiatt’s death. Though the story had been widely reported by local media outlets, the precise details of Hiatt’s mistake and the scope of reasons for her firing — including allegations she was dismissed in part for being a lesbian — were not reported elsewhere.
Explain types of human sources used.
Aleccia was able to obtain difficult interviews with Hiatt’s survivors, including her mother, her brother, and the first public account in any outlet by Hiatt’s partner and the co-parent of their children.
Results:
The piece generated strong reader response: more than 2 million page views in the first two days it was published. Some 2,188 comments were posted; more than 14,000 people recommended the story on Facebook. In addition, Aleccia was approached afterward by patient safety experts and professors at nursing schools seeking permission to include the story in the standard curriculum used by both groups
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
None.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
I would advise any journalist reporting on such a sensitive case to be sure to obtain and review all the documents surrounding the case, and to always ask the people directly involved — family members, spouses, partners — for interviews, even if it’s difficult and even if you’re afraid they’ll say no. Sometimes, they say yes.