Murder Investigations In Our Worldwide Healthcare Systems with Veterans Affairs OIG Retired Special Agent In Charge Bruce Sackman

Much has been reported in the news about the issues facing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Articles abound about reform, but few highlight the incredible dedication and work performed by law enforcement to curtail untoward activity ranging from fraud to murder. “Behind the Murder Curtain” follows investigations of Medical Serial Killers conducted by the Special Agents and forensic nurses of the VA Office of Inspector General and their law enforcement partners. Bruce Sackman, former Special Agent-in-Charge, candidly walks the reader through the roadblocks experienced by his team in identifying and proving beyond a reasonable doubt that doctors such as Dr. Michael Swango and nurses like Kristin Gilbert murder their patients instead of upholding the Hippocratic Oath. The doctors and nurses featured in this book pursue careers in medicine for a variety of reasons, including the desire to inflict excruciating pain and suffering or be seen as the savior. The book focuses on Medical Serial Killers who at some point in their careers work for the government, but clearly articulates that the problem is not a unique one. Sackman recounts meeting a Scotland Yard detective who investigated Dr. Harold Shipman, ultimately responsible for killing hundreds of people. Sackman presents the herculean effort and time it took to find and convict Dr. Swango, who left the country for Africa to continue practicing medicine. He spells out the difficult relationships amongst various agencies in working together and offers ways to tackle investigations by addressing the most obvious crime first. Sackman’s idea to pursue Dr. Swango on fraud charges enabled him to be detained at the airport before boarding a flight for Saudi Arabia. After years of investigating Medical Serial Killers, Sackman developed The Red Flags Protocol, an A-Z checklist, to help hospitals and law enforcement pay attention to anomalies. It is truly unfathomable that physicians and nurses might use their positions to murder patients, but after reading “Behind the Murder Curtain” it is clear that medical professionals are on the front lines of identifying these killers. “Behind the Murder Curtain” is published by Post Hill Press. https://behindthemurdercurtain.com/