“At 6.15pm on 27th July 2006 my family’s world as it was ended. We were a normal family of five; now we are three.”
Clare Bowen, mother of Bethany, Will & James and widow of Richard.
In this moving and challenging documentary we tell the story of the Bowen family following the tragic death of Bethany during ‘routine’ surgery. Following the trauma of his daughter’s death and the ‘torture’ of the inquest, Richard died suddenly of a massive heart attack aged 31 years.
Clare’s remarkable courage and humanity in the face of extreme tragedy is the hallmark of this powerful and provocative film. Through Clare’s testimony the film offers professionals the opportunity to explore the multiple ‘human factors’ that lead to Beth’s untimely death and to re-examine their own ideas and practice in relation to serious harm in the healthcare context.
Ultimately, this film is another step in Clare’s search for truth and reconciliation.
How to use Beth’s Story
Beth’s Story is available on DVD – you can order a copy by completing our on-line order form here.
The key purpose of Beth’s Story is to engender personal reflection and learning and to stimulate debate and discussion on key issues for improving patient safety. A range of important themes and issues can be identified from Beth’s Story, including:
- The nature of error and blame
- Managing the aftermath of a tragic event
- The challenges of developing a culture of openness
The powerful film can be used in education sessions to focus on some or all of these themes.
To help facilitators get the most out of Beth’s Story, we’ve also put together a Facilitator’s Pack. This includes:
- Beth’s Story DVD
- Beth’s Story – Comment & Analysis DVD
- Beth’s Story – a guide for facilitators. This is a comprehensive booklet which guides you through how to get the most from the film including:
- Before you show the film – preparing the audience
- Key themes
- Suggested formats for facilitated sessions
- Use of questions for discussion
Order the Facilitator’s Pack here.