Martha’s Rule: Early Success in Empowering Patients for Urgent Medical Reviews
Merope Mills, the mother advocating for Martha’s Rule after her daughter Martha’s death, reports promising initial data indicating the scheme’s effectiveness. Nearly 50% of calls to the program led to critical-care reviews, with significant changes in treatment for many patients. The initiative aims to empower families to request urgent assessments when care is in question, potentially preventing further avoidable deaths. Mills expresses hope that the rule will become a national standard to enhance patient care and address preventable fatalities.