Wall of Silence: The Untold Story of the Medical Mistakes that Kill and Injure Millions of Americans

If you want to know the truth about the medical system and the enormous number of errors and cover-ups within that system, read this book. Well-researched with many shocking and heart-breaking case studies, the book provides answers as well as showing the problems. Thank goodness someone had the courage to buck the system and break down the Wall of Silence for all of us.

Despite the enormous costs of healthcare in the US, the system is percieved by many as being unresponsive to the needs of patients. Rather than being at the center of peoples concerns, patients wait in line at the whim of insurance companies, doctors, HMOs etc. Mistakes occur more frequently than one would expect, and all too frequently denial is the only remedy offered. The authors of this book by taking a number of case studies and speaking to patients and health care providers provide a very compelling analysis of the problem. No one party is singled out for undue criticism. Rather, the book explains how weaknesses in the design of the system result in poor performance across the spectrum. This book is definitely recommended for anyone who feels let down by the healthcare system.

High time a book like this was written putting a human face on the crisis of medical error running rampant in this country. It's time the public realizes what is happening and vocalizes a well-deserved and long-overdue sense of outrage! Were any other industry guilty of killing the same amount of people per year -- conservative estimates put it at 98,000 per annum; which is the equivalent of one jumbo jet airliner crashing each day, every day throughout the year, year after year, unchecked -- we'd have Congressional inquiries and public demands for accountability and safety, in the same way we demand it of the aviation and chemical process industries. The healthcare delivery industry touches every person's life and demands no less scutiny and accountability. We need national standards for safety, recognized protocols for handling accidents and 'near misses,' root cause analysis of medical-induced deaths and disabilities and plans for continuous improvement by providers. Most importantly, as this book reveals, we need the system to weed out bad doctors and recognize those who are providing excellent, commited service to the public.This book puts a face on this pervasive epidemic -- takes the deaths and injuries out of front page, "it will never happen to me" sensationalism and puts it squarely in our own doctors' offices and community hospitals where a broken system continues to harm us and our loved ones without any clamor for improvement. This book is a wake-up call for reform. I hope it has the same impact on the quality of medical care in this country as "Silent Spring" had on improving the health of our planet. Buy this book and read it today! Then get your Congressman/woman on the phone and demand full disclosure and accountability!

The Wall of Silence by Rosemary Gibson, is a MUST READ for all comsumers. I say all comsumers because all of us are subject to being the receipent of health care in our life time. As a retired Registered Nurse and also twice a victim of medical negligence, I encourage everyone to read this book of great information about how the medical system functions and how you can protect yourself and your family. Ms. Gibson cites enough examples of the horrendous things which can happen to any of us for the reader to understand how we must all change our "looking to the Gods in White" to being our own advocate for ourselves and our families. With 100,000 people dying every year from medical negligence, it is time we all scream at the top of our lungs to our legislators to make safe health care a number one prioity. Buy your own copy and one for a friend and don't re-sell them. Keep your copy for frequent reference.

This is truly an enlightening book. I was amazed to find how frequently errors occur. Many, if not most, could easily be avoided if simple precautions were taken. It is really sad that we don't demand more from our medical facilities and government in this area. We as consumers/patients are denied information that would perhaps change our decisions regarding the doctors we choose and the facilities we use. No one is held accountable when mistakes happen. This kind of policy makes it almost impossible for real change to happen in healthcare. I hope this book inspires people to take issue with the problems and lobby for change.This book also gives great advice on what to do to prevent medical errors from happening to you or a loved one.