Medical professionals devote their lives to caring for others. However, when mistakes occur, the consequences can be devastating. Changes in the way we handle medical malpractice are critical to ensure both doctors and patients are treated fairly. 

In the United States alone, medical errors are the third leading cause of death, resulting in nearly 250,000 fatalities each year (as reported by Johns Hopkins Medicine). If we apply rigorous and fair standards, we can reduce these tragic numbers significantly.

It is essential that we promote transparency, improved training, and root cause analyses for errors in the medical field. Sign this petition today to urge lawmakers to reform medical malpractice laws.

My name is Jeffrey, my big sister’s name is Jacima. Our mother Jacqueline is currently experiencing respiratory failure and kidney failure, requiring dialysis. She is on a ventilator and has been diagnosed with severe brain injury due to anoxia while currently in a coma.

Petition for Justice:
We’re sharing Jackie’s story because we need the support of the community to demand accountability for what’s happening to her at her stay with UI Health.

Before being deemed eligible for a stem-cell transplant, Jackie underwent multiple tests, including heart, lung, dental, and liver evaluations. These tests were conducted to ensure that she was a good candidate and could safely undergo the procedure. After passing all these tests, she was approved for the transplant.

Our mother, Jacqueline Coffey, went into the hospital for a stem cell transplant in August 2024, hoping for a chance at a better life. Instead, what unfolded has left her in a coma, fighting for her life due to a series of errors and delays in her care. A healthy start that turned tragic.

Jackie was admitted to UI Health on August 14, 2024. She was in stable condition and eligible for a stem cell transplant. She underwent several tests to ensure she was in the right health position to receive the procedure, and we were hopeful for a successful recovery.

But in just a few short days, there were delays and a life-threatening transfusion. On August 24, her platelet count dropped to a concerning level, but no immediate action was taken. Her condition worsened by the next morning when her platelet count dropped drastically to 13,000.

Even then, the hospital waited nearly a full day to administer platelets, which didn’t happen until 1:10 AM on August 26. The transfusion was done in a rush, with no vitals taken before or after. Shortly after the transfusion, our mom began to experience severe respiratory distress and went into cardiac arrest.

The Rapid Response Team (RRT) was called, but by then, it was too late—my mother had fallen into a comatose state, which she remains in to this day. Conflicting stories and missing records we’ve been given conflicting explanations from the medical team.

At one point, the doctors suggested Jackie may have had an allergic reaction to vancomycin, a medication she was administered on August 25. However, she was alert and responsive just hours before the transfusion at midnight on August 26, when we spoke over the phone.

Further adding to our heartache, critical medical records about Jackie’s care, including the notes about the platelet transfusion, have disappeared from both her MyChart and official medical records. We have screenshots of this missing information, and we are deeply concerned about the transparency and honesty of her care.

Jacqueline Coffey is not just a patient—she is a mother, a grandmother, and a fighter! She went into this hospital with hope, but because of delays in her care and potentially wrongful actions, she has been left in a state from which doctors now say she may never recover.

My family and I believe this could have been prevented, and we are asking for your support in holding UI Health accountable for the treatment that led to our mother’s condition.

We need your help. We are calling for justice and accountability for Jackie and all like her. Please sign this
petition today to show your support for a thorough investigation into UI Health.

Let’s ensure that no other family has to experience the heartbreak that we are going through right now. We demand answers, transparency, and justice for our mom. Thank you for standing with us!