Lethal Medicine
The Epidemic Of Medical Malpractice In America
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
With America's health-care system in the midst of upheaval, and with government officials, physicians, and the public-at-large focused as never before on the cost and quality of these vital services, a hidden epidemic--medical malpractice--destroys hundreds of thousands of lives each year and is ignored by the majority of the medical establishment.
Lethal Medicine is the first book to thoroughly examine malpractice, and its author, Harvey F. Wachsman, M.D., J.D., as both a respected neurosurgeon and the leading attorney in the field, is uniquely qualified to critique this problem from every angle. Using numerous case histories and authoritative data from university and government studies, Wachsman explodes the common myths that doctors are spending millions of dollars on "defensive medicine" and that the high cost of malpractice insurance is driving many doctors out of their practices. In fact, he argues that most malpractice cases actually do result from egregious abuses by doctors. Reviewing the latest court rulings and malpractice policies, Wachsman calls for the lgal community, government, and medical establishment to protect the public from the thousands of physicians who continue to practice irresponsible medicine without penalty.
As Washington makes health care one of its highest priorities and the nation turns its attention to the issue, Lethal Medicine is a thoughtful yet urgent cry for reform by the nation's foremost expert on the topic.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Wachsman, a neurosurgeon, lawyer and coauthor of The American Law of Medical Malpractice , and New York City public relations executive Alschuler argue that medical negligence, incompetence and fraud cause tens of thousands of deaths and injuries each year--and that most of them are never revealed. In forceful, explicit terms, the authors cite many appalling cases of malpractice documented by government and university studies. What is to be done? The AMA must better police its members, stress the authors, and the courts must enforce existing laws of ``reasonable care and diligence'' and ``proximate cause.'' Wachsman and Alschuler also urge state health agencies to discipline delinquent doctors who are reported by insurance companies. Tort reform and continuing physician education are crucial as well. The authors' concluding advice in this timely, instructive alert is for lay people, who must become careful health care consumers: investigate the backgrounds of their doctors, be familiar with their own medical histories and question every diagnosis.
