But even cursory research clearly underscores two other matters at the root of a much larger volume of adverse outcomes: Undisciplined physician handwriting on charts & prescriptions – which kills 18 patients every day of the year – and is absolutely shameful. And, the lack of the ‘peer review’ process to result in – among other things – the weeding out the medical miscreants who ought not be involved in patient care at all.

In a Harvard study in 2008, 1600 physicians were asked the following question:

“How often do you see incompetency among your peers that could result in negative outcomes?”

Of those MDs who answered, 60% reported they witnessed peer incompetency at least once per month.

And how many spoke up about it?

1%.

There is no doubt that Americans need to be better patients. But the fact that so many otherwise quality doctors ignore their oath, and turn a blind eye to the dangerous MDs among them – speaks to a far greater problem.

Over the past 25 years, the National Practitioner Data Bank has collected files on 237,000 doctors considered by the Health Research Group, to be either “Dangerous” or “Questionable.” But they almost always return to practice.

The only aspect of this discussion that flies more in the face of basic human morality than bad physicians in the midst of good ones, is the fact that they are silently tolerated, and allowed to continue enormous damage to society, by physicians who otherwise deserve our respect.