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Summary: Disturbing but Fascinating
Review: What is wrong with me? I was disturbed, frustrated, and appalled by the contents of this book but I could not put it down. There were times when I wanted to shout, "Somebody, please put the pieces together and stop this animal!" I have read Stewart's Den of Thieves and knew that he would do a great job with this story. I wasn't disappointed at all. This is a telling and frightening book with an immense amount that can be learned and put to use in the medical profession today. It is a fast read because you cannot put it down. Be sure to check the internet for the most recent update on Swango.
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Summary: LOOKING FOR JAMES B. STEWART'S E-MAIL ADDRESS
Review: Hi! I'm looking for anyone who can give me James B. Stewart's e-mail address, or his snail mail address. If anyone has it, or knows where I can find it, please let me know! Thank you....from Quincy, IL...Rick
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Summary: Brilliant
Review: This is a brilliant book, and I gave my review below, but I would like to add this bit of relief--that is not in the book--that the author James Stewart wrote in a recent issue of "The New Yorker": SWANGO PLED GUILTY TO THE MURDERS! At the trial, a witness who was not in the book, testified that she saw Swango inject poison in a patient, and that he then literally stayed in the room for 2 hours to watch the patient die, even though he had responsibilities elsewhere in the hospital. It seemed this was the most damning testimony that Swango couldn't maneuver around, so, to avoid a death sentence, Swango pled guilty in exchange for life-imprisonment. The judge then said that when serving his life term, Swango should never be in charge of prison food. (Smart judge!)
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Summary: Why Was Dr. Michael Swango Allowed A Second Chance?
Review: In most instances, writers put together a book about people and events in the past tense. James B. Stewart, though, soon realized after starting this book that he had become an active participant in a drama to stop a murderer from killing again. Stewart had a duty to put a stop to this terror. What might possibly motivate Dr. Swango? The doctor did not seem to financially benefit from these deaths. There is also no evidence whatsoever that Swango was prompted by any misguided humanitarian concerns. Dr. Swango's apparent only motivation is the psychopathic thrill of putting his fellow human beings to death. He seems indifferent and callous towards all suffering. There are strong suspicions that Swango even murdered his loyal wife. A court of law will likely convict Swango in the near future. The questions will still remain, however, concerning the scandalous behavior of the legal establishment that allowed this horror to continue long after it was obvious a serious problem existed.I was morally and intellectually appalled by an earlier Amazon review by an anonymous "reader from Omaha, N.E.," a medical professional, who had the audacity to charge the author, James B. Stewart, with biased reporting. These comments should be read by all who are trying to understand how Dr. Swango was allowed to continue his criminal behavior for so many years. One should indeed take it for granted that the Dr. Swangos are the exception, not the rule. Most medical facilities probably would not have hired Dr, Swango after his conviction for poisoning his fellow co-workers. That's not the point. Once is enough. The disgrace is that there were not sufficient procedures in place nationally to prevent Dr. Swango from ever again practicing medicine. A single conviction of such magnitude should have ended the career of Dr. Swango in 1985. The following murders resulted from the gross arrogance and incompetence of a medical community concerned primarily in preserving its power and privileges. A democratic society must not allow professional establishments to protect their own regardless of the consequences upon the wider community. Lay people must not be excluded from directly overseeing the behavior of the professionals. The latter deserve respect, but not our unquestioning laissez faire toleration. The recent actions of the American Medical Association in preventing legislation to prevent a reoccurrence of another Dr. Swango is outrageous to say the least. The new motto for the AMA should be "We protect our own, and the general public should go to hell!" Thank God James B. Stewart zealously pursued this story. The overwhelming probability is that without Stewart's efforts---Dr. Swango would still be killing patients. Many people owe their very lives to Stewart. It would also be sad if this book is merely perceived as a superbly written true story about a particular murderer. "Blind Eye" is also a disturbing commentary how power and cowardice corrupts professional groups who have forgotten that their first duty is to the general public, and not to their own membership.
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Summary: Illuminating inside look at the medical establishment...
Review: It shows the blind veneration that many of us have for doctors in this country. It is a business like any other, and the consumer deserves to be protected from the incompetents in this elite.
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Summary: All Too True!
Review: I read this book quicker than any I have read in a long time. Having had very unfortunate experiences with OSU Medical Center, the reported attitudes rang all too true. James Stewart has done us all an incredible service by putting a light on Michael Swango which will hopefully lead to a conviction for murder. News from the last several weeks shows that thanks are also due to the FBI for their persistent follow through on the case. The frightening problems in hospital care continue, though, with many hospitals providing impersonal, proceduralized care with little regard for input from patients or even the primary care givers -- the nurses.
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Summary: I know all so well.
Review: Reading this book was a must for me as well as knowing some of the players within. Mr Stewart did a great job of facts and reality with the best of truth. This book on swango shows just a mere piece of the serivity amid the so called great professional medical community. AS leanred in his book some were told they were even emotionaly unstable which a typical response to women in these cases and others. Swango has been in need of being put away for life long ago and OSU did a disjustice by all the mishandlings and hidings, but it also proves how this takes p-alce daily. Get hurt by a Doctor, die by the hands of a bad Doctor and the others rub his back and cover up for him. This happens daily and thsi book came out right after I had a terirble and frightening experience and lessons were learned so quick and how true this booki was and even the players who one even has my items in the brown ile cabinet.I chose to write this as I heard now Swango is finally being charged in NY, thanks to Mr Stewart. I hope Mr Stewart continues to offer futher books at this level of honesty and great and truthful facts and he chose not to stoop to such a level he shorted the facts. Mr Swango being off the streets is because of Mr Stewart. So many other areas in the medical community could be hit on and Mr Stewart as well could offer a great story a great amount of honesty and more lessons in what is really happening in teh real medical community. This was and is frightening but it happens daily, pat your buddy on the back so he will cover for you.If OSU and others would have taken the proper and right steps all of these people would not be dead today. It is a veyr sad world today to think you can not even trust your Doctors. I am sure Mr Stewart may be able to offer futher words on Mr Swango and hopefully so and maybe he will again tackle another area of the medical community which seems to be way out of hand. Maybe it;s time something gains some respect and honesty bakc in the medical community for all. HURRAY,for Mr Stewart and he did a great job and probly has now saved lives. AS well he also made all aware how any just take on a Doctor and do not even bother to check them out or we have Doctors who write fake letters to get these jerks jobs elsewhere. What has the medical community really came to. Thank you Mr Stewart and I have a book to bve wrote on my experiences and I could think of no better person who I would want to write my book than Mr Stewart. Honest, Direct, and real as well as frank and no hesitations. Please write more.
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Summary: Gripping Page-Turner
Review: "Blind Eye" is a very disturbing book. There were several times throughout the book that my stomach was literally in knots due to the overwhelming revulsion and shock that a man like Swango might become a free man this month and return as a member of our society. This is a man who upon his release from prison would most likely have no problem poisoning other individuals that he just doesn't like. Or even poison individuals he doesn't know, just because he can. I've read all 62 reviews and what I find most interesting is that one of Stewart's themes in the book is how doctors protect their fellow doctors. Of these 62 reviews many of the one-star ratings are posted by individuals who work in the medical field, or are doctors themselves. The five-star reviews are mostly written by people that have no professional relationship to medicine. OBVIOUSLY Swango's situation is unique, and OBVIOUSLY not all hospitals cover-up their internal indiscretions. But what some reviewers seem to be missing is that the point of this book is not to slander the medical industry. "Blind Eye" is the story of a serial killer who happens to be a doctor. While it's unfortunate that several hospitals acted irresponsibly, hopefully this book will open the eyes of administrators who might implement stronger screening guideline and more honest investigations of internal affairs. While I did not "enjoy" reading this book, I found it an incredible piece of investigative journalism. Stewart is an excellent writer and this is a very important book.
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Summary: Coming Soon To A Hospital Near You!
Review: I don't know who is worse. Is it the doctor, the subject of this book, an alleged murderer of 35 or more hospital patients, or is it the arrogantly stupid physicians who let him get away with it in not one, but at least five hospitals? Michael Swango is a licensed physician who seemingly has a compulsion to kill people. Possibly a narcissistic psychopath he evidently enjoys injecting poisonous substances into hospital patients, friends and co-workers. Slipping arsenic into the ice tea of fellow paramedics is what got him his first prison sentence. He first started his alleged killing spree during a residency at Ohio State University Hospital. He evidently continued his bizarre activities after prison during residencies at the University of South Dakota, and at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Why does a physician felon convicted of poisoning people continue to obtain medical residencies? Here's why. The physicians conducting the admissions programs are too incompetent to properly screen his application, even though he admits to being an ex convict. Then after patients die left and right, and nursing staff turn him in to the medical staff, the doctors refuse to believe their testimony. One key witness was a student nurse. It was quickly agreed by medical staff, as they all rolled their eyes, that no one should really accept what a student nurse has to say. One doctor conducted an egregiously incompetent investigation of Dr. Swango's activities. Another was equally negligent in screening Dr. Swango's admission to a residency program. What punishment has been meted out to these two physicians? They both are now working for the Association of Medical Colleges in Washington, D.C. where they oversee the application process of all medical school residents in America. Isn't that wonderful? Dr. Swango now moves on to work in African hospitals where the death toll continues to rise. Suspended from one hospital for his suspected murder of several patients, he secures another position at a hospital nearby while the police investigate charges against him. Returning to the USA he is arrested, tried and convicted on a fraud charge. He will be released from prison any day now, and presumably might join the medical staff at a hospital near you. I normally don't read true-crime books, but, having spent my entire career in hospital management, the topic intrigued me. It reads like a thriller, and believe me the behavior of the doctors (excluding Dr. Swango) in the book didn't surprise me at all.
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Summary: Where is this dude?
Review: This is a well-written investigation of what has to be one of the more bizarre chapters in U.S. medical regulation. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I don't think the finger can be pointed at any one group. A lot of people gave the benefit of the doubt to Swango when faced with circumstantial evidence. Then, unfortunately, a couple of residency pickers did what had worked for years and went with their gut instead of reviewing the files before selecting Swango. Hopefully, there aren't any other Swangos out there. According to the book, he was set to be released to a halfway house in January 2000 and free July 2000. Does anyone know where he is? This is the most scary thing of all, especially when you are not that far away from his stomping grounds.
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