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Doug Wojcieszak is the founder and current spokesperson for The Sorry Works! Coalition. Wojcieszak lost his oldest brother to medical errors, his family was forced to sue the hospital and doctors to get answers, and they obtained a settlement but not a genuine apology. Wojcieszak also provided public relations and political consulting to both sides of the medical malpractice debate: tort reformers/medical community and trail lawyers. These personal and professional experiences convinced Wojcieszak there must be a better solution to the medical malpractice crisis, and that solution is disclosure, apology (when appropriate), and upfront compensation (when necessary) after adverse medical events. Sorry Works! is a marketing term developed to promote disclosure and apology, and the coalition was founded to advocate Sorry Works! To contact Doug via e-mail doug@sorryworks.net or call 618-559-8168.
The Sorry Works! Coalition Board Members:
John Banja, Ph.D, Bioethics Professor at Emory University and author of "Medical Errors and Medical Narcissism." John has conducted funded research for the last three yeas on developing a model policy for disclosing medical errors. He is a leading researcher and educator in this field.
Ilene Corina, Co-President of PULSE, a national patient safety network and support group. Ilene lost her three-year old son to medical errors and has since worked tirelessly to promote patient safety and provide support to others who lost loved ones to medical errors. Ilene was recently appointed to the Board of Commissioners for JHACO, and she is also on the board of directors for the National Patient Safety Foundation.
Geri Amori, PhD, past-president of ASHRM, nationally recognized disclosure consultant, Dr. Amori is a nationally known speaker, facilitator and consultant on risk management and communication issues in health care and patient safety. She is a past president of ASHRM, as well as past president of the Northern New England Society for Healthcare Risk Management. In 2004, she received ASHRM's coveted Distinguished Service Award. She has a master of science degree in counseling and human systems from Florida State University and a PhD in counselor education from the University of Florida.
Martin J. Hatlie, J.D, former executive director of the National Patient Safety Foundation; former American Medical Association Lobbyist. Marty Hatlie has a long and distinguished career working in medical liability reform and patient safety issues. Marty currently dedicates most of his time to patient safety initiatives and recently founded a group called Consumers Advancing Patient Safety, or CAPS.
Charles Inlander, President, People's Medical Society. Charles has developed the People's Medical Society into the largest consumer health advocacy organization in the United States. He also serves as a faculty lecturer at the Yale University School of Medicine and is the co-author of two best selling books: Your Medical Rights (Little, Brown, 1990) and Medicine on Trial (Prentice-Hall, 1988; Pantheon Books, 1989).
Dr. Lester Jones, Assistant Chief of Staff for Quality Assurance, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Lester successfully implemented the full-disclosure program that was originally introduced at the Lexington, Kentucky Veterans Admiistration Hospital. Interestingly, the Los Angeles area is often labeled as a "litigious" environment by many tort reform groups, but Dr. Jones' full-disclosure program has had great success.
Dr. Steve Kraman, Former Chief of Staff, Lexington, Kentucky Veterans Administration Hospital. Steve Kraman and Ginny Hamm developed and implemented a full-disclosure program at the Lexington VA hospital in late 80's. The program's success at reducing lawsuits and settlement costs was reported in Annals of Internal Medicine in 1999. Steve is a national leader in the full-disclosure movement.
Dale Ann Micalizzi, Advocate for Pediatric Patient Safety and Transparency in Medicine. Dale's background consists of pediatric healthcare and preschool education/welfare. Her 11 year old son, Justin, died of medical negligence in 2001. She has worked incessantly for the past four years searching for answers and accountability from the physicians that she trusted, only to be faced by silence and inhumanity which forced her into litigation. Dale's efforts are focused on compassion and support for grieving families, full-disclosure of adverse events and education that will restore ethics and safety to medicine.
David Patton, medical malpractice attorney, Paradise Valley, Arizona. David represents people injured by medical errors, but he is concerned about the growing national medical malpractice insurance premium crisis. He says that 60% to 70% percent of the people who visit his office are simply looking answers after having been abandoned by doctors - even though doctors may not have been at fault. David believes Sorry Works! is a real solution to the problem that can benefit all stakeholders in the crisis.
Dr. Frederick Van Pelt, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston. Rick was featured in the May 2004 Wall Street Journal article entitled "Medical Contrition." Against the advice of defense attorneys, Rick apologized to a patient after a medical error. Not only did Rick avoid a lawsuit, but he maintained and strengthened the relationship with his patient.
Dan Wood, Jr, criminal defense attorney from Terrell, Texas. Dan tragically lost his 21-year old daughter to medical error in January 2004. Like so many cases, the hospital and doctors and refused to speak with Dan and his family after the tragedy. He wishes his daughter's hospital had practiced a Sorry Works! type program.
Dr. Michael Woods, author of Healing Words, the power of apology of medicine, and founding partner of Doctors in Touch. Mike is a national leader in the full-disclosure movement and he regularly trains doctors and medical providers on how to improve communication with patients and deliver authentic apologies. Mike's company - Doctors in Touch - provides communication and apology training materials and resources for doctors.
Dr. Albert Wu, Johns Hopkins University. Albert is an Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management and Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University. He is currently conducting research on disclosure of medical errors. Albert also maintains a clinical practice in HIV and general internal medicine, and leads the Johns Hopskins disclosure program.
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