Ohio resident Cathy Harter met with Senator DeWine of Ohio personally. Cathy’s son, Stephen died due to a drug side effect that its maker knew about, but did not disclose to the public. Senator DeWine listened to her story and agreed to support drug safety legislation in Congress.

Everyone who cam to DC that day, came away inspired by our power to make change. These 17 activists have become leaders in a movement that will one day ensure that Congress and the FDA fix our broken drug safety system.

The Prescription for Change campaign will be working closely with these activists and we hope with YOU as well over the next year to make sure Congress acts this year and passes strong drug safety legislation.

Lisa Toolen’s son, Jimmy, was an active and healthy 15-year old who had out-patient knee surgery in 2005. They never imagined that it could turn into such a life changing event for her family. But that was before he developed a debilitating infection from his surgery that threatened his life and ultimately may leave him permanently disabled. Since his initial surgery, Lisa’s son has had five more surgeries and is preparing for another one to repair the damage caused by the antibiotic resistant infection that has wreaked havoc on his health. Ms. Toolen attended all the public hearings to support the hospital infection disclosure bill, telling legislators about her son’s story and the continuing struggle to save his leg. She also was interviewed by print and television media, which helped to educate the public about hospital-acquired infections.

Helen Haskell

Helen Haskell, founder of Mothers Against Medical Error (MAME), was another key advocate for the Stop Hospital Infection Campaign in South Carolina where she worked with a coalition of other activists (individuals with hospital infection experiences) and organizations (John Ruoff, SC Fair Share; Theresa Arnold, SC AARP; and other) to get the hospital infection public disclosure bill passed into law this year. Helen became a patient safety advocate after her 15 year old son died from a medical error in 2000. She successfully worked for passage of the Lewis Blackman Hospital Safety Act in 2005 in honor of her son. The law requires all doctors wear identification tags, so patients will know if a doctor or medical resident is attending a patient.

The Stop Hospital Infection campaign worked with South Carolina Fair Share (SCFS), South Carolina AARP and Mothers Against Medical Error (MAME) as well as individuals with hospital infection experiences.

In 2003, Kim's husband and Eric's brother-in-law, Woody, filled a new prescription from his family doctor for the antidepressant, Zoloft to reduce insomnia and "help manage the stress of a new job." Woody had just taken a position as Vice President of Sales with a start up company about 2 months prior.

After 5 weeks of being on the drug--Woody took his own life. He had no history of mental illness, depression or any other problem. Woody was not warned about the need to be closely monitored when first going on the drug or when the dose was increased--the 3-week sample pack from Pfizer doubled the dosage from 25 - 50 mg. Last year, Kim Witczak contacted Consumers Union, after learning about our efforts to improve drug safety, and worked with us to schedule meetings with her representatives. Since then, Kim and Eric have met with Governor Pawlenty and Representative Jim Ramstad of Minnesota, among others. Rep. Ramstad became a joint co-sponsor of drug safety legislation in the House. Kim and Eric have also been helping to lead a campaign in MN to require drug companies to release the results of all clinical trials they conduct to doctors and the public, not just the ones that make their drugs look good. This legislation received bi-partisan support and widespread media attention. Also--over 3,000 Minnesotans wrote letters, made phone calls and signed Kim's petition in support of this bill.

This legislation may not have passed this year, but you can bet Kim and Eric will be back again next year to make sure this important patient safety bill becomes law.

When asked why he supports Consumers Union, Dick would say, he notices that the issues that Consumers Union pushes out to him are the kind of things most people would agree to, "no matter what stripe the person is." He really appreciates that CU is trying to engage ordinary citizens who don't have the time to look into issues, making it feasible to become more politically active. Dick says that Consumers Union is the "lead dog in this thing," but really, we believe that people like Dick Lambert are the lead dogs in making a difference for all consumers and citizens.

The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) and Colorado Public Interest Research Group (COPIRG) were also part of the Colorado coalition.

"The original letter to the editor got the attention of Melissa Cabral, from the local TV news channel, who phoned me with some questions," Ann remembers. "I suggested she interview a man whose wife had recently died from 'complications.' Then one of the local papers put an article in their paper about our group." This finally got the attention of hospital administrators, who agreed to come to a meeting. "They came -- not so much to listen, but to try to convince us we had all gotten our infections out in the community and not at their hospital. The 76 angry people were not convinced."

As a result of the hard work of Infection Connection and the thousands of supporting letters from online activists, a hospital infection disclosure bill is now moving forward in California. "We are presently working hard to get SB 739 passed in California requiring hospitals to keep accurate records of their infection rate and make that information available to the public. Thank you Suzanne, Lisa, and everyone else at Consumers Union for all the help and support you are giving to our group."

“I am very disturbed about the direction of the country…it seems that government does not possess either the talent or the willingness to equitably address the problems of school deficiencies, health care, social security, etc.
I feel we are immersed in a culture of greed, selfishness, arrogance and corruption. My only voice is letters to the editor, working on political campaigns and through organizations like Consumers Union…and while I continue to express my opinions at times it feels as if I am just whistling in the dark, but damn it, I am not about to give up.”
--Frank Chesek of Palm Springs, CA

“The reason why I care is because so many of these consumer laws affect me, the consumer. I know Consumers Union is working for the interest of the consumer, which includes me. No other reason is needed for me to care. After all, if we the consumers don't care for our own interests then no one else will care either.”
--Heidi Ying of Johnson City, NY

”When I see the country going in the wrong direction, I see corporate interests over product safety, consumer-be-damned attitudes from board rooms. America should be a country of fair-play, of learning from mistakes, of trying to do better. That is the goal of the inspiration. My mother always said I was a rabble rouser, so I like to tilt the wind mills of the powers that be...”
--Michael R. Duffey of Miami, FL

“After 20 years of military service, I retired in 1964, yes 1964. Upon that retirement, I entered the securities business...followed by 18 years living in Europe... So I have seen my country from a number of vantage points. What I have seen has not been pretty. From the nation that inspired the world in the 1940s, I have watched it slide into the abyss of imperialism, there to wallow in political and corporate corruption. We seem to be saying to the world, and to one another, "Screw you Jack, I'm all right." Well, I say we are not all right. So what's left to me to do? I support Consumers Union, write letters to pols and stay out of jail.”
--W.J. Barnet

After a blitz of email letters to legislators from Consumers Union's online community, several infection reporting bills were filed in 2005. Raquel traveled to Austin from her home in Houston, Texas to meet with state legislators about them. Although a final public disclosure bill did not pass, the legislature created Texas Advisory Panel on Health Care Associated Infections, and Raquel was appointed to serve as the consumer representative. The panel, which also includes health care professionals, will recommend legislation for hospital infection reporting in 2007, the next time the Texas Legislature meets for general business. Raquel's committment is unwavering, and she will be there along with our online community to make sure legislators know that this bill must finally pass the next time around.

As an e-activist with Consumers Union, Terri received an email from us in late October, asking for volunteers to come in to our West Coast Office in San Francisco to help reach voters by phone on Prop 79. Although she has a full-time job, Terri was excited to help out in any way she could, and she volunteered to make calls to voters one Sunday afternoon and one weeknight, for hours at a time!

After the election, Terri wrote in a note to Consumers Union, “Thank you, again, for the opportunity to 'do something' and for the lovely election night party you guys put on. The only thing that would have made it better would have been a vastly stronger showing -- and a WIN -- for 79. But at least 78 was also defeated, in spite of the money the drug companies spent.

You did have a great group of volunteers, and I was absolutely delighted to see how many young people were involved in the campaign. It gives me hope as to the political future...and that's no small thing to have.”

He serves on two non-profit Boards, and is active in the local Homeless Shelter when it’s open in the winter months. He is an online activist, and community activist for Peace and humanitarian, justice, animal welfare and environmental issues. He averages one letter to the editor published monthly in the local paper. He chairs a committee of people who provide a complete lunch monthly to about 20 kids and 80-100 men and women in downtown Los Angeles. These people are homeless or indigent, and all of them have AIDS. He is also active in people actions through his Church.

He says that he's inspired by the work and "empowered by those I try to assist in my tiny way. You know, the ripples that a small stone dropped in a lake makes…"