Author Description

This book, written by a doctor and a lawyer, explains to lay readers who know nothing about medicine how they can avoid death and injury caused by medical mistakes. It may be shocking to learn that preventable errors by doctor and hospital personnel are a leading cause of death and injury in the United States—perhaps even exceeding the annual deaths caused by heart disease (over 600,000) and cancer (over 500,000). The authors present 104 rules which, if followed, will help to prevent such deaths and injuries. These grim statistics were revealed during a July 2014 all-day hearing conducted in the United States Senate by Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont. The title of the hearing was “More than 1,000 Preventable Deaths a Day Are Too Many….” (The actual figure is well over 400,000 such deaths each year.) Doctors, statisticians, and other experts from Harvard, Johns-Hopkins and elsewhere testified. The press coverage was extensive for a few days, but little else has occurred since that time—no legislation nor any recognition of the problem by leaders in the healthcare industry or elsewhere. The authors explain how this entire problem appears to be concealed behind a “Wall of Silence.” The book, written for laymen without medical knowledge, offers practical methods which will protect patients in hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and even doctors’ offices. Here are some of the 104 rules: Rule 42. Once a decision is made to have surgery, arrange to have an advocate/friend remain in your room when needed. If the patient is unconscious, semi-conscious or otherwise “out of it,” this would require 24/7 attendance. Rule 38. Ask that your elective surgery be scheduled for a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Surgery should always be avoided, if possible, on Thursday or Friday. Rule 48. Do not have elective surgery during any holiday, religious or secular, or during any weekend.