Prior studies have demonstrated that patients and families can report adverse events that would not otherwise have been detected. This qualitative study explored perceptions of adolescent patients and their parents about adverse event reporting. Positive perceptions of care led to participants being more willing to report an adverse event; whereas, if they felt the quality of care was poor, they would be less likely to report. In addition, families who perceived providers as good communicators were more comfortable with reporting adverse events. Families were interested in multiple modes of reporting including face-to-face meetings, internet-based reporting, live telephone calls, paper mail, and smartphone-enabled reporting of adverse events.