One of the Most Dangerous Places on Earth

review by Irene Alleger

, by Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD; Andrew Saul, PhD; and Steve Hickey, PhD

Basic Health Publications Inc.; 28812 Top of the World Drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651; 949-715-7327

Softcover; ©2011; $18.95; 249 pp.

Before I ready Hospitals and Health, I had what I thought was probably an unreasonable fear of hospitals; like most people, I equated hospitals with serious illness – and dying. However, from the first page of the book, I realized that my fears were not only reasonable, there were “the tip of the iceberg.” I knew for instance, about the rise in hospital-acquired infections, errors in drug administration, and lack of health-enhancing measures such as nutrition. But deep vein thrombosis (DVT)? “It is estimated that one in 10 hospital deaths are caused by abnormal venous clotting. The number of people dying from hospital-induced DVT is five times greater than the number who die from hospital-acquired infections.” This is given as an example by the authors, as to how patients may protect themselves by asking questions and using nutritional supplements to reduce the risks of blood-clotting.

The authors back up their assertion that “hospitals are dangerous places,” with research data, clinical observations, and studies such as one done by the Institute of Medicine: a stay in Boston’s University Hospital showed that of 815 patients, 36% suffered hospital-induced injuries; in 9%, injuries were considered severe enough to threaten life or serious disability. For 15 patients, the hospital-induced illness “contributed to the death of the patient.” In a study of 18 deaths from 12 hospitals, 14% to 27% deaths from common causes, heart attack, pneumonia, or stroke were reported to be preventable. The lowest estimate places medicine firmly among the top 10 causes of death in the US.

The authors write: “Making pharmaceuticals and treatments more widely available will not solve the disease problem any more than making guns available solves the crime problem.” There is an inherent conflict of interest in the practice of modern medicine. For instance, people are advised to eat five servings of fruit and vegetables a day to prevent disease and stay healthy. Even though nutritional deficiency is accepted as a cause of disease and illness, modern physicians claim that there is little or no benefit from nutritional supplementation. This is a contradiction that speaks directly to the fact that modern medicine depends on sick people – effective medicine reduces the financial rewards. Similarly, if they treated patients successfully, hospitals would go broke.

Poor management of hospitals is cited as a primary cause of unnecessary death and disability. In 4 out of 10 severely ill patients, one study found the standard of care “appalling,” resulting from “life-threatening complications left untreated, poor note keeping, seriously ill patients deteriorating without prompt action, and lack of facilities for emergency surgery.” Much of this is due to the advance of medical technology and the professional management of hospitals. Productivity and cost effectiveness have now taken precedence over the beneficial care of patients. Hospitals need to take greater care with patient safety, the authors say, as human error is a main cause of complications. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a checklist for hospital staff that could presumably save many lives, yet hospitals seem loath to instigate such a measure.

Hospitals have become known for the transmission of “superbugs” that are resistant to antibiotics, and now, all of us are at risk because of the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, by both doctors and in animal feed (which continues today). Even though vitamin C given intravenously in large doses has proven to be both safe and effective to treat infection, the medical community refuses to acknowledge any treatment other than drugs. Consequently, a patient entering the hospital today needs to be vigilant about hygiene. Even today, some doctors do not always wash their hands between patients or before examinations or treatment. This is the main message of Hospitals and Health – we must advocate for ourselves. We are urged to ask questions, check medications, and, importantly, take adequate supplements to reinforce the immune system. The authors provide a checklist of the many possible risks in the hospital to be aware of.

Medical screening has now become prevalent, and the authors spell out the downside to this technology. Some doctors rely heavily on screening procedures, most of which produce radiation, must be operated by specially trained personnel, and often lead to equivocal interpretations. We assume that high-tech methodologies are superior to older methods, but statistics do not show better results.

The authors provide important checklists for patients entering a hospital, such as “Do I really need this operation?” “What is the success rate?” and “What happens if I get an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection?” Some of these suggestions are obvious, but when people are sick, they tend to rely solely on what their doctors tell them, and don’t question “authority.” However, today, patients can readily find information about their condition or about a hospital, and even communicate with other patients, via the Internet. There is plenty of information available, and the authors of Hospitals and Health stress the importance of preparing for hospitalization.

Doctors have a vested interest in having control of our health care, and therefore do not encourage their patients’ participation in decision-making. However, given the high number of errors and unnecessary deaths in hospitals, today’s patients need to be well-informed, proactive, and vigilant if they want to avoid these risks. If hospitalization becomes necessary, this book could save your life.

PEARL: “Patients can check out the Twelfth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in American Study for a rating of their hospital. Over half of preventable deaths are associated with four conditions: sepsis, pneumonia, heart failure, and respiratory failure.”