Book 1 of 2013: Unaccountable

Is this scary or what: twenty five percent of hospitalized patients are victims of some kind of medical error, ranging from fairly minor to fatal. There are many factors that can work for or against a culture of safety in a hospital, and Dr. Marty Makary explains them in a way that is terrifying and galvanizing at the same time.



Dr. Makary explains how data on the safety of your local hospital are not easily available, so as a medical consumer, you generally do not know whether your hospital, for instance, has an above-average rate of "never" events (operating on the wrong person, the wrong side, etc.), or how high the rate of post-surgical infection is. The average medical consumer doesn't know the complication rate of his/her surgeon and may feel guilty seeking a second opinion.

This is either the best or worst possible book to read prior to a hospitalization. Dr. Makary suggests questions patients should ask their physicians and their hospitals in order to be more informed consumers.

For online resources, the Leapfrog Group is a good place to get what information is available about your local hospital.