Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Dark Ages Today

Over 135 years ago Sir John Lister spoke at the Philadelphia Medical Congress about the sad state of affairs in terms of survival rate for post-surgical patients. 90% of them died. Sir Lister said the problem was germs. They laughed at him and mocked him. Today, while the mortality rate has improved, the conditions in 'modern' surgeries are abysmal. The number 1 reason for post-surgical death remains germs. I understand sterilizing surgeries is very expensive, but you would think that at least the tools were sterilized- no most of the time they are simply washed in soapy water. Your dish washer does a better job of cleaning your silverware than hospitals do cleaning scalpels. Why do we continue to allow this? Why does congress do nothing while people die?

There is a huge push for constant hand-washing in schools, yet we allow germs into surgery? It just doesn't make sense. My son was put into a medically induced coma after a supposedly routine surgery for his acid reflux. How did it happen? An infection that occurred during surgery. SURGERIES NEED TO BE STERILE!

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