"Who's accountable for my child's life?"

"Who's accountable for my child's life?"
The hospital VP couldn't answer me.

It was 2020. Our 2yo needed a kidney removed.
We chose one of America's top children's hospitals. We had world class specialists: nephrologists, urologists, radiologists (so many -ologists), each independently great.

But nobody was talking to each other.
They were like ships in the night, each on their own program, doing their own job... but failing to sync up.

Test results seemed to contradict.
Timelines shifted.
One doctor would walk in, oblivious to the information we just got from the doctor walking out.

It felt like watching a movie where someone randomly shuffled the scenes. Familiar faces, but nothing made sense and details were out of order.

Or like a project (a world I know too well), where everyone is "busy" and "working hard", but the deliverables keep missing the mark.

But this wasn't a movie or some project.
It was my daughter's life.

So there I was, face-to-face with the hospital's VP of staff operations.
I asked one simple question:
"Who is accountable for my child?"

"We all are," he said proudly.
"Our entire team..."
I cut him off.

"That's not how accountability works! If everyone's accountable, no one is...
If my child dies, who is the ONE person you and I can expect to explain WHY?"

The room went silent.

I tried a different angle: "This place is great. You've assembled the NFL All Stars of hospital professionals. Amazing players...

But who is your quarterback?
Who's calling the plays?"

His entire body language shifted.
Eyes widened.
Shoulders straightened.

"Dr. Jackson," he said immediately. "She's your quarterback."
Boom. Sportsball, for the win!

Here's the truth: Accountability isn't about doing everything.
It's about owning the outcome.

When accountability is unclear, it's irresponsible to proceed (regardless of whether or not a kids' life is at stake).

In my case, things quickly got back on track.
Surgery succeeded.
Case closed.

But how many projects are we running right now without a quarterback?
Which outcomes are disappointing us, but lack one clear owner?

It's usually more than we care to admit.