If you don’t want to become one of these 225,000 dead Americans, I suggest that you read this article in its entirety. Your life may depend on it.
The article below may come as a surprise to many Americans since we have been brainwashed into thinking we have the best health care in the world. Nothing could be further from the truth.
This article, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is a riveting expose’, by the medical establishment itself, of the countless deaths caused by medical mistakes.
There is an antiquated term called “bedside manner” which described a doctor who was compassionate and took time to listen to their patients, explained in detail the diagnosis and treatment plan and answered all the patient’s questions and left them with a feeling of confidence. Few of these doctors now exist.
Many times the doctor gives his patient a brief assessment of their problem in unfamiliar medical terms. Then he gives his patient a handful of prescriptions without thoroughly explaining the possible side effects. Then he darts out from the room leaving the patient with a puzzled look on their face. The basic cause of the problem is seldom discussed, nor are their any suggestions for modification of diet, exercise or other lifestyle changes that may lead to better health.
We need to learn how to protect ourselves and our loved ones from incompetent, overzealous doctors. Always remember, the doctor is not some god standing on a pedestal, he is a human being like yourself. And he is YOUR EMPLOYEE. One way are another, you are paying his wages. You have bought his time. Make him earn it. Here are some suggestions:
1. The average American knows little or nothing about their body and its functions. I suggest you buy a book on Basic Anatomy and Physiology. Take just one hour of your television watching time each day to study the book. Then, when the occasion arises, you can ask the doctor intelligent questions and understand his answers.
2. Make sure you thoroughly understand the treatment plan. Insist that it is explained in terms you can understand. If it’s surgery, ask about the procedure, the risks and any alternatives. If in doubt, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. If it’s medication, ask the purpose of the drug, ask how it works in your body, ask about the possible side effects and ask how it may interact with other drugs you may be taking. If the doctor seems to be impatient with your queries, or doesn’t explain to your satisfaction, find another doctor.
3. Get a magnifying glass if you have to, but read all the information accompanying your prescription. Question the pharmacist until you are satisfied with the answers, you are paying his salary also. If you still have questions, get back to your doctor again.
4. If you have a computer, use the internet to research your health problem for a full understanding of all its origins, symptoms, implications and current treatment procedures. Also, again check on your drugs and their actions and side effects. The internet contains mountains of information about health issues. Use several resources until you are satisfied that you understand your health problem and its treatment. If you still have more questions, talk to your doctor again.
5. Fear is the main reason why patients don’t question their doctors. Fear of angering the doctor who has your life in his hands, fear of sounding stupid by asking so many questions and fear of asking questions that you don’t want to hear the answers to. Get over it and be informed.
Always remember. THE DOCTOR IS YOUR EMPLOYEE. (Dr Garrett)
Doctors Are The Third Leading Cause of Death in the US
Causing 225,000 Deaths Every Year
This article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) documents the tragedy of the traditional medical paradigm.
This information is a followup of the Institute of Medicine report which hit the papers in December of last year, but the data was hard to reference as it was not in peer-reviewed journal. Now it is published in JAMA which is the most widely circulated medical periodical in the world.
The author is Dr. Barbara Starfield of the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health and she describes how the US health care system may contribute to poor health.
ALL THESE ARE DEATHS PER YEAR:
* 12,000 — unnecessary surgery
* 7,000 — medication errors in hospitals
* 20,000 — other errors in hospitals
* 80,000 — infections in hospitals
* 106,000 — non-error, negative effects of drugs
These total to 225,000 deaths per year from iatrogenic causes!!
What does the word iatrogenic mean? This term is defined as induced in a patient by a physician’s activity, manner, or therapy. Used especially of a complication of treatment.
Dr. Starfield offers several warnings in interpreting these numbers:
* First, most of the data are derived from studies in hospitalized patients.
* Second, these estimates are for deaths only and do not include negative effects that are associated with disability or discomfort.
* Third, the estimates of death due to error are lower than those in the IOM report.
If the higher estimates are used, the deaths due to iatrogenic causes would range from 230,000 to 284,000. In any case, 225,000 deaths per year constitutes the third leading cause of death in the United States, after deaths from heart disease and cancer. Even if these figures are overestimated, there is a wide margin between these numbers of deaths and the next leading cause of death (cerebrovascular disease).
Another analysis concluded that between 4% and 18% of consecutive patients experience negative effects in outpatient settings, with:
* 116 million extra physician visits
* 77 million extra prescriptions
* 17 million emergency department visits
* 8 million hospitalizations
* 3 million long-term admissions
* 199,000 additional deaths
* $77 billion in extra costs
The high cost of the health care system is considered to be a deficit, but seems to be tolerated under the assumption that better health results from more expensive care.
However, evidence from a few studies indicates that as many as 20% to 30% of patients receive inappropriate care.
An estimated 44,000 to 98,000 among them die each year as a result of medical errors.
This might be tolerated if it resulted in better health, but does it? Of 13 countries in a recent comparison, the United States ranks an average of 12th (second from the bottom) for 16 available health indicators. More specifically, the ranking of the US on several indicators was:
* 13th (last) for low-birth-weight percentages
* 13th for neonatal mortality and infant mortality overall
* 11th for postneonatal mortality
* 13th for years of potential life lost (excluding external causes)
* 11th for life expectancy at 1 year for females, 12th for males
* 10th for life expectancy at 15 years for females, 12th for males
* 10th for life expectancy at 40 years for females, 9th for males
* 7th for life expectancy at 65 years for females, 7th for males
* 3rd for life expectancy at 80 years for females, 3rd for males
* 10th for age-adjusted mortality
The poor performance of the US was recently confirmed by a World Health Organization study, which used different data and ranked the United States as 15th among 25 industrialized countries.
There is a perception that the American public “behaves badly” by smoking, drinking, and perpetrating violence.” However the data does not support this assertion.
* The proportion of females who smoke ranges from 14% in Japan to 41% in Denmark; in the United States, it is 24% (fifth best). For males, the range is from 26% in Sweden to 61% in Japan; it is 28% in the United States (third best).
* The US ranks fifth best for alcoholic beverage consumption.
* The US has relatively low consumption of animal fats (fifth lowest in men aged 55-64 years in 20 industrialized countries) and the third lowest mean cholesterol concentrations among men aged 50 to 70 years among 13 industrialized countries.
These estimates of death due to error are lower than those in a recent Institutes of Medicine report, and if the higher estimates are used, the deaths due to iatrogenic causes would range from 230,000 to 284,000.
Even at the lower estimate of 225,000 deaths per year, this constitutes the third leading cause of death in the US, following heart disease and cancer.
Lack of technology is certainly not a contributing factor to the US’s low ranking.
* Among 29 countries, the United States is second only to Japan in the availability of magnetic resonance imaging units and computed tomography scanners per million population. 17
* Japan, however, ranks highest on health, whereas the US ranks among the lowest.
* It is possible that the high use of technology in Japan is limited to diagnostic technology not matched by high rates of treatment, whereas in the US, high use of diagnostic technology may be linked to more treatment.
* Supporting this possibility are data showing that the number of employees per bed (full-time equivalents) in the United States is highest among the countries ranked, whereas they are very low in Japan, far lower than can be accounted for by the common practice of having family members rather than hospital staff provide the amenities of hospital care.
Journal American Medical Association July 26, 2000;284(4):483-5