A Sea of Broken Hearts: Patient Rights in a Dangerous, Profit-Driven Health Care System (Paperback)

~ John James Ph.D (Author)
Key Phrases: older cardiologist, subepicardial lesions, hypokalemic cardiomyopathy, Sea of Broken Hearts, Air Force, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This is a must-read for summer runners, baby-boomers, and anyone who suspects that they or a loved one has been harmed by medical errors in our health care system. Hundreds of thousands of Americans die each year from medical errors, but most mistakes are kept secret from patients. After learning a few basic tools of cardiology, the reader shares a journey of heartbreaking mystery and discovery as a father pieces together the events that led to the death of his 19-year old son, despite extensive evaluation by a "team" of cardiologists. That personal struggle opens into a broad-ranging examination of our profit-driven health care system. The story concludes with an appeal for ten patient's rights to protect us all before we personally encounter the dangers of our health care system.

About the Author

The author is a medical scientist with 2 Master's degrees and a Doctor of Philosophy in pathology. He is a board-certified toxicologist working in the space industry to solve environmental health problems for future journeys of humans to the moon and to Mars.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (July 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434321363
• ISBN-13: 978-1434321367
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,518,368 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read if you have ever been treated by a physician!, October 30, 2007

By	N. N. Khan "Dr. N. Khan-Mayberry" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a must read for anyone who has ever been under the care of a physician in America! This book is a heartbreaking story painfully pulled from the ashes of a father's grief. However, the story does not attempt to bash the American medical system; rather point out some major flaws that thousands of Americans have paid for with their life. The failures of the state medical board and other elements of the healthcare-accountability system are well demonstrated in the text. When I read this book, I felt compelled to share my thoughts with others. This book demonstrates that we can no longer afford to be afraid to question a physician's advice and qualifications! Your life (and your family's lives) depends upon you! While the book may appear to be unkind to those doctors who are unprepared to care for their patients; it recognizes that there are many excellent physicians in our current system.

"A Sea of Broken Hearts", tells the story of how death came to a college-age runner (Alex) because of uniformed, unethical, and profit-driven medical care. The story is told by his father, a medical scientist who expresses shock and dismay as he discovers the nature of his son's medical care. As a reader, you are empowered by being given the opportunity to decide how Alex's care should have differed from the care he actually received from doctors. The failure of Alex's cardiologists to gain his informed consent before invading his body was especially troubling; especially since many of us have signed these informed consent papers in a matter of seconds during a medical crisis. The documentation of technical points is organized and thorough, yet easily understandable to the non-scientist, leaving no doubt in the reader's mind that Alex's life could have been saved.

I found the figures to be extremely helpful, but each must be studied to make the medical pieces fit together. The "indictment" of Alex's healthcare providers is expanded in later chapters of the book to include the community of cardiologists. The author points out many unrelated examples of lapses in cardiologists' care for their patients which are documented in leading medical publications. Some of the blame for the poorly prepared medical doctor can be found in the weak continuing education system that physicians use to maintain their professional competency. The side by side comparison of pilots', mechanics' and physicians' continuing education was especially disturbing. In the end, the reader is finally left with some hope that the healthcare system can be fixed, but serious legislation, including an enforceable, and truly protective, patient bill of rights will be necessary.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A NASA scientist's analysis of the shortcomings of modern medical standards. Highly recommended., October 28, 2007

By	Helen Haskell "Mothers Against Medical Error" (Columbia, SC, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the story of a tragic loss of young life. But even more, it is the story behind that story. John T. James is a NASA physicist whose 19-year-old son Alex died mysteriously of cardiac arrest shortly after undergoing invasive cardiac tests. In his quest to find out what happened to his son, James turns a scientist's eye on the medical care Alex received -- and did not receive -- in the weeks before his death. In the process, he exposes the shocking inconsistencies of the practice of cardiology in particular and medicine in general. Among other shortcomings, James documents the lack of strong medical standards, the lack of effective credentialing of medical doctors and, most dismaying of all, the institutionalization of this sorry state of affairs in the medical regulatory establishment. The accumulation of evidence is thorough and incontrovertible, as are James's proposed solutions. If you want to know the nuts and bolts of why medicine so often falls short of its goals, and what we can do about it, you need to read this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful Commentary on Patient Rights and Health Care Quality , September 25, 2008

By	Julia Hallisy (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"A Sea of Broken Hearts" is a valuable resource for the public, health care professionals and health policy makers. John James, Ph.D has suffered the greatest loss imaginable - the loss of a child - due to the limitations in our medical system. Instead of retreating and living in sorrow, John James has made a brave and conscious effort to carefully and methodically re-examine every aspect of his son's flawed diagnostic process to expose the actions that cost his son his life and that place all of us at risk.

This book details the practice of Cardiology and the many errors that plagued his son's interaction with the system, including misdiagnosis, miscommunication, the failure to utilize known medical guidelines and diagnostic tests not being performed properly. Mr. James also discusses the many actions that the reader should take to ensure that their cardiac care is appropriate, safe and thorough.

Mr. James goes one significant step further and offers solutions including a comprehensive outline of a national Patients' Bill of Rights. In doing so, John James tells us a tragic and compelling personal story and begins a vital public awareness campaign. "A Sea of Broken Hearts" is a moving tribute to his late son, Alex and one that will help save the lives of many people.