People in the health care field tell me that 90,000 patients die needlessly in American hospitals each year. From personal experience in two of the better-run hospitals, I absolutely believe it. Let's face it, you are not in the hospital because you are in tip-top shape to begin with. Add anesthesia, musical-chair nursing, and staff shortages that impel even the best hospitals to dumb-down care to the lowest (and sometimes barely understandable) possible level, and you have a disaster waiting to happen.
Your best defense is a well-informed primary caregiver. I am so lucky and blessed to have in my corner a man who epitomizes strong advocacy for my well-being and fearless disregard for rules that do not serve the mission, that is, my healing and thriving.