Malpractice: A Neurosurgeon Reveals How Our Health-Care System Puts Patients at Risk

by Lawrence Schlachter, John Bechtel (Primary Contributor)

In 1991, the Institute of Medicine released a landmark report, which revealed that as many as 98,000 patients were dying every year owing to avoidable medical error. More recent research indicates that estimate was, if anything, a drastic understatement of the patient-safety epidemic in the US health care system.

In Malpractice , neurosurgeon and attorney Dr. Larry Schlachter makes a case that most patients enter the system without any idea of the risks they face, due to a medical culture that denies there is a patient safety problem. He argues that medical culture actively avoids transparency, perpetuates an atmosphere of blind deference to doctors, and protects dangerous doctors from any accountability.

Drawing on 23 years of experience, Dr. Schlachter provides unbelievable stories that illustrate the host of risks patients face whenever they seek diagnostic evaluation or go under the knife. This book provides an all-access pass to the inner sanctums of the health care citadel, exposing the cultural flaws that fuel doctor’s egos and outlining the steps every patent should take to protect himself or herself.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Medicine, Medical

264 pages, Hardcover

Published January 3, 2017

Reviews

[AURORA RU · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awsome. I truly don't understand why this book is not very popular. Or probably I understand - before I got to know that such thing as IATROGENESIS even exists, I believed that doctors are guided by their best will, best knowledge and best practice. That is what we are taught to believe. White coat priests and everything. But - as soon as you get to know the facts that thousands are dying at hospitals because of stupid mistakes or negligeance - you start to see some kind of medical malpractice every time, even at a routine medical check-up. This book will empower you as a patient to understand the system and its risks, to take the control in your own hands.

[Yelena Papp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book - it will save your/a loved one's life. Not that it might, it WILL. If you're looking for something new yet important to learn, pick this book up. Perfectly describes some inner-workings of both the legal and medical fields, that I guarantee will be eye-opening and beneficial to everyone. Do yourself/your loved ones' a favor and dive in.

[Lynda Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need patients to get after this situation while we're still alive and kicking! 🚺🚼🚩🚺

The author puts my repeated experience on paper . The doctor knows this story from both sides--as a practitioner of neurological medicine and as a prosecutor of demonstrably dangerous doctors . The medical system has, over time, devolved into a shield for practitioners who persist in flouting their incompetence.
I am reluctant to continue getting medical treatment for my soon-to-be fatal condition caused and then made worse over the years by the limited vision of medical practitioners.. Now they are misrepresenting me and my statements in their office visit notes. You might want to review your own records. The law makes them available to you. Just ask the hospital records department. I have them emailed as soon available

[tisasday · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a mistake to think of the practice of medicine as purely biomedical. It is extremely sociological and political.

[Devlin Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book I read dives deep into the world of medical ethics, malpractice, and the human consequences of errors within the healthcare system.

What sets this book apart is the author’s ability to blend personal stories with detailed medical insights, creating a narrative that is both educational and deeply human.

The characters are rich and complex, and the plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat. One in particular was about neurologist Dr. Christopher Duntsch- who killed multiple people under his care. What a crazy story that was.

This book is a powerful reminder of the importance of diligence, compassion, and the ethical responsibilities of those in the medical field and also the need to be your own advocate for your own health care!!

[Scott Holstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book and good to see from the inside out. My primary complaint it, I'm pretty sure most people reading it would already know and agree, thus he's preaching to the choir. The people for whom it should be intended, and to affect change because of it, either won't read it, will discredit it, ignore it or won't care. Because it's all about the money and the people who have the power to make essential changes never will. Which is why this book is interesting but won't change a thing. Not the author's fault. Kudos to him for trying.

[Rachel Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

While at times repetitive, this is an important book for anyone living in the United States and subject to the mistakes and negligence of the current medical system. This book charts the rate of patient preventable deaths, the uphill climb for seeking restitution through malpractice claims, and questions and actions to take *before* undergoing any medical procedure or treatment. Doctors are human and prone to mistakes, but their mistakes can result in lifelong medical complications or death. Before putting yourself in their care, read this book.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Depressing book by surgeon lawyer who seems to think the worst of all doctors.

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this book? First, I will say that I believe it. I've done some research to try and vet some of the claims, and it seems to add up. I think this is important reading for anyone who has chronic medical issues or who has a family member who spends a lot of time in and out of hospitals. Don't blow this off just because you're young.
The book it's self is well written. However the content is where I don't know what to say. It's disturbing, frightening, and some of it makes me very angry. As someone who is completely outside of the medical community, I think the best thing I can do with my anger is channel it into asking hard questions before having any procedure done. I can also ask for infection rates and death rates for procedures, fill the hospital may not reply to me. On another front, I can write to Congress urging them to make the database of doctors who have been charged with malpractice multiple times available to the public so we won't go to them trustingly. No pregnant woman wants to go to a Doctor Who has had 32 charges against him for malpractice including failure to get help for a fetus in distress. Yet this man's bedside manner maybe so reassuring that the woman thinks she is incompetent hands. It's not fair that a database exists for hospital administrators but the public is just stuck. Yes, hospitals and doctors need some protection from people who Sue for no reason. So the system isn't perfect. We've got to ask for something better though.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.