Dennis Quaid Wants Zero Harm

Imagine that your loved one has checked into the hospital for a simple procedure, but something goes wrong. Now their life hangs in the balance. It's a terrifying thought, but the truth is that hospitals are not immune to making medical mistakes. In fact, nearly a hundred thousand people die every year from healthcare harm. For far too long, the families of many of these victims have not had a voice...until now.

See also: Why you should avoid the hospital in July.

When actor Dennis Quaid's newborn twins were nearly killed by an accidental overdose, he was launched into a reluctant new role he never thought he'd play. Using the survival of his children as fuel for his work, Quaid is partnering with our country's top patient safety leaders to bring public awareness to preventable medical mistakes. “It happens insidiously,” Quaid says. “It happens at over 5,000 hospitals in this country over a large geographic area and one at a time, so the public’s not really aware of how prevalent it is.”

My Generation sits down with Quaid to discuss his life, his family and his latest mission that is shedding light on an often overlooked problem.