Behind the Murder Curtain: Special Agent Bruce Sackman Hunts Doctors and Nurses Who Kill Our Veterans Paperback – August 10, 2020

Hooray for interest, information, and practicality! Great content.

If you think there is no connection between true crime stories and “news you can use,” this book will convince you otherwise -- immediately, and urgently. On the one hand, it is the true account of doctors and nurses who murder hospital patients, and the administrators who care more about the reputation of their hospitals than they do about exposing crimes to public view. On the other hand, and perhaps most importantly, it sounds a clarion call at very high decibels about the risk anyone could face, and how, armed with this knowledge, there are questions we, as potential patients, should ask prior to ever needing the services of our local hospitals.Both sides of this story are told in the first person by Bruce Sackman, who rose to national prominence in the federal government’s Veterans Affairs Department by bringing to justice medical serial killers. The stories are real, and really terrifying. Some of the accounts have been the subject of other books; the great value here is that Sackman’s experiences in tracking down murdering doctors and nurses is so authentically told. The writing by Jerry Schmetterer, author of five previous, excellent true crime books, and the insights brought to this project by former Brooklyn rackets investigator Michael Vecchione, make this a totally compelling read.Sackman readily admits that no one is sure how many patients have been murdered by health care professionals. In considerable details, he explains the difficulty in detecting hospital murders, and the extent to which hospital administrators have gone to conceal their suspicions, and, in too many instances, to ignore serious allegations brought to their attention to dedicated nurses. Fortunately, Sackman's empathy for the victims and their families led him to formulate what he calls the Red Flags Protocol, an A-to-Z guide for detecting, exposing, arresting, and convicting hospital murderers. The protocol is now widely in use at hospitals around the country.Before reading this book, I had something akin to blind faith in the bona fides of health care staffs and the competency of those who run hospitals. Now, not so much. My plan, before hospital care becomes an issue, is to confirm that hospitals within my community have and follow Sackman’s protocol. Any that don’t, I’m not going.

Bruce Sackman, and his colleagues, wrote a great book about MSKs (medical serial killers) loose in the V.A. system, and, how Bruce, and his associates brought down the infamous doctor, Michael Swango - who had been passed from one facility to another, due to fear of liability, and in doing such, these hospitals/VA centers, and elsewhere, allowed a suspected/known MSK to continue killing innocent people/patients. It is with gratitude for the dedication of the staff who assisted Bruce in bringing down Swango, and, with the help of his co-authors, to expose a national trend, in many facilities, whether by nurses, doctors, or other medical staff who abuse, and/or kill, or contribute to early deaths of many patients throughout this country, on a daily basis. It happens in other countries, too, as Swango left the U.S. to go to Africa and (escape the heat) work for a while, and G-d only knows how many Swango may have killed over there. G-d rest the souls of the deceased victims, and comfort their families. I appreciate that someone cared enough to pursue this MSK, and then to write about it, to make the public aware. I have been subjected to horrendous medical nightmares and abuses by a host of doctors, nurses, and medical staff, which should never happen...but, in this country, and at least in this state, Florida, it seems as though the medical providers are protected in so many ways, and patients, who have a host of Patients' Rights - still remain victimized, and though a patient could be arrested and charged with a felony for abusing (verbally and/or physically) any medical staff - who is going to look out for the patients who are victims of abuses by these medical providers?? We need more people like Bruce, and, more staff like those named in this book, to come forward, and help stop the abuse and/or deaths of patients. We all deserve proper medical care, and to be free of harm in hospitals and/or doctors' offices. I hope everyone takes the time to read this important true crime story, and, to learn how to speak up and stand up for yourself, and your loved ones when we/they are being abused, or injured, intentionally, or due to willful misconduct. Thank you to Bruce, and his partners who wrote this novel Please read it, share it, and look into your own medical care, and take a stronger and safer approach to whom you see, and get your medical records - you might just be surprised how much of your records contain false, misleading, or other improper data, which in today's world of EHRs (electronic health records), is being spread around to most all of your providers, and it is time to put a stop to these antics. They are not G-ds, though they may have G-d like egos, though G-d does not do harm, and, is on (y)our side...not these "Devils in White Coats," as I call them. Pat attention to what Bruce shares, and how me made a difference, and so can you! Thank you.

To know that this Dr existed is very scary but to know about the man protecting our veterans is also there makes this book a good read.

Engaging read on a regrettably grim reality as found by Bruce Sackman and his team. A testament and tribute to professionals who are filled with passion for justice. Thanks to investigators, agents, and medical professionals like Bruce Sackman and his team, crimes that would have gone undetected and unpunished were resolved. Going beyond the stories, the Red Flags Protocol developed is a great tool to detect similar crimes in the future. A must-read for healthcare investigators.

I enjoyed reading this book I couldn't put it down. The world needs to know of what goes on in this world behind closed doors.

I enjoyed the book very much. It tells a great story of what occurred, as I was involved in some of the investigation. Highly recommend this book.