Back in June 2012 I wrote an article titled: “How Dangerous is Your Doctor?”  In it I quoted some mainstream sources, something I rarely do.  Usually I refer to scientists and their studies.  But in this case, the mainstream sources seemed even more relevant because they usually do not rock the boat when it comes to popular nutritional guidelines and health care procedures.  It’s especially true regarding the American Association of Retired Persons ( AARP ).  For instance here is a quote from that article.

I’ll quote the July/August 2011 issue of AARP Magazine, page 22.  “The following four operations are over performed for a variety of reasons: Some are moneymakers for hospitals and doctors, others are expedient, and still others seem to work, at least in the short term.  But evidence shows that all have questionable long-term outcomes for treating certain conditions, and some may even cause harm.”  Below are four operations and I have paraphrased and quoted from the same AARP Magazine article.

What was the first over-performed, questionable operation on the list?

It was: “Stents for Stable Angina.”

Also in that article, I brought up a little history with this statement:

As George Washington lay near death Martha, fearing that it might be harmful, demanded that the doctors stop bleeding him.  But hoping to cure him they continued with more bleeding.  Unable to accept Washington's impending death, the doctors ignored his orders to stop their treatments yet later in the evening, they applied blisters to his legs and feet and a wheat bran poultice to his throat.

That’s right, the finest medical doctors in the world slowly killed George Washington with their treatments!

Flash forward to today.  In a CNN news blurb I got this message:

Former President George W. Bush, 67, has had a stent placed in a heart artery to clear a blockage, his office said today.

The procedure was performed this morning without complication at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, his office added.

"President Bush is in high spirits, eager to return home tomorrow and resume his normal schedule on Thursday," the office said in a statement.

"He is grateful to the skilled medical professionals who have cared for him. He thanks his family, friends, and fellow citizens for their prayers and well wishes," the statement continued. "And he encourages us all to get our regular check-ups."

Follow coverage of breaking news on CNN TV, CNN.com and CNN's mobile apps.

Later that day on the radio the CNN news story had expanded to include discussions about Bush being a relatively healthy man who was careful about the foods he ate.  They said he exercised and followed the best nutritional guidelines.

In my opinion, this is just another example of bad leadership, bad reporting, bad medical practice, and nutritional ignorance.  If Bush ate healthy foods he would not require a stent.  If the doctors were more knowledgeable about nutrition, instead of putting in a stent which does solve the problem, they would make sure Bush changed to The Real Diet of Man.

How did AARP report the same story?  The same as CNN.  But I thought the AARP doesn't like stents?

So, just like in my June 2012 article, I’ll end this article this way.

Nothing changed . . .

How Dangerous is Your Doctor?

Ted Slanker

Wednesday, August 7, 2013