The Myth The Best In World

Title of article: The Myth of �Best in the World’

Name of Magazine: Newsweek

Date of magazine: March 31, 2008

Recall: Infant mortality rate in the United States is seven per 1,000.

Medical costs in the country are the highest in the world.

U.S. is 28th position in the World Health rank.

Summary: This article was written to reveal the reality of medical care in the United States. People with health insurance believe the U.S. has the best medical system in the world, because they have access to high-tech equipment and the latest procedures. However, those are not necessarily beneficial or make this nation in a better position globally. It estimates 44,000 of the 98,000 deaths are caused by medical mistakes. A deluge of new research shows the States behind other countries in cancer survival and diabetes care. The myth of �the best in the world’ is misguided. The system needs to be reformed.

Question: Why are almost 45% of the deaths in hospitals caused by medical mistakes?

Comment: The article is attempting to say that medical care in U.S. is not the best in the world. Countries such as Portugal or the Czech Republic which are not known as first-rate in health care have a better position than the U.S. in international health rankings.

Connection: One friend of mine, who lives in Michigan, had a surgery to remove a malignant tumor from her womb in the last year. Another surgery was needed a couple months later because the doctor forgot to take out a part of the tumor. Isn’t that ridiculous, making her go through that procedure again?

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