Code Blue

Inside America’s Medical Industrial Complex

By: Mike Magee MD

Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray

Length: 14 hrs

Publisher's Summary

How has the United States, with more resources than any nation, developed a healthcare system that delivers much poorer results, at near double the cost of any other developed country - such that legendary seer Warren Buffett calls the Medical Industrial Complex "the tapeworm of American economic competitiveness"? Mike Magee, MD, who worked for years inside the Medical Industrial Complex administering a hospital and then as a senior executive at the giant pharmaceutical company Pfizer, has spent the last decade deconstructing the complex, often shocking rise of, and connectivity between, the pillars of our health system - Big Pharma, insurance companies, hospitals, the American Medical Association, and anyone affiliated with them. With an eye first and foremost on the bottom line rather than on the nation's health, each sector has for decades embraced cure over care, aiming to conquer disease rather than concentrate on the cultural and social factors that determine health. This decision Magee calls the "original sin" of our health system.   

Code Blue is a riveting, character-driven narrative that draws back the curtain on the giant industry that consumes one out of every five American dollars.

©2019 Mike Magee, MD (P)2019 Tantor

Critic Reviews

“A searing and persuasive exposé of the American health care system.... Readers will hope that Magee's knowledgeable, urgent indictment, following so many others in recent years, will lead to meaningful reforms.” (Kirkus Starred Review)

Beware

Had I known that this tripe was written by a pharmaceutical flunky -- who made himself zillions before "seeing the light" -- I never would have purchased this. Mr. Magee wants to make even more money by "telling all" about the monster that he himself helped to create. People like him make me sick.

TOO POLITICAL

I was looking for in depth analysis like American Sickness a few years back on underlying reasons for why our health care system costs are out of control. I couldn't make it past chapter 3 - do not read unless u want a whiny political slant with it.

Depressing but illuminating

I had to take breaks from this audiobook at times because it was just so disheartening to see how awfully people have acted throughout history and in recent history as well... But at the same time, I'm glad I stuck it out. It was very illuminating, and even when I disagreed with the author (such as on abortion and the motivations behind Catholic teachings) I respected his views. Everyone needs to know this ugly history and the ugly truth of the present.

Excellent Recounting of the Health Care Crisis

I really liked this informative expose that goes way back in history and up to the present to recount the many serious problems with the US health care system. The narrator does a good job, and I found this very interesting.