George Washington: Killed by Doctors Following “Best Practices” — And Modern Echoes of Medical Negligence
Dr. Robert Malone's recent essay pulls no punches: America's Founding Father, George Washington, did not simply die of a throat infection on December 14, 1799. He was effectively bled to death by the leading physicians of his day.
Washington developed a severe sore throat and respiratory distress after riding in cold weather. Three doctors — including his longtime physician Dr. James Craik — applied the era's gold-standard treatment: aggressive bloodletting. They drained an estimated 5 pints (about 40% of his total blood volume) in a single day, along with enemas, poultices, and other interventions. Washington, ever stoic, even urged them on: "More, more!" One doctor later regretted not performing a tracheotomy, but the consensus prevailed. Washington died at 67, fully conscious until the end.
This wasn't malice. It was consensus medicine. Bloodletting had been "settled science" since ancient times, endorsed by the best medical minds. Historians and biographers often treat it gently — celebrating Washington's bravery rather than condemning the iatrogenic (doctor-caused) death. As Malone notes, even centuries later we struggle to admit that credentialed experts following protocols can kill.
The Pattern Persists: Modern Famous Cases of Medical Error and Ignorance
Washington's death is a stark historical warning. Medical consensus can be deadly when it overrides common sense, humility, or emerging evidence. Here are notable modern examples:
John Ritter (2003): The beloved actor from Three's Company died at 54 from an undiagnosed aortic dissection. He presented with chest pain and was initially treated for a heart attack. Doctors missed the classic signs; he went into surgery too late. His widow won a settlement against the hospital. Failure to diagnose remains one of the most common lethal errors.
Joan Rivers (2014): The comedian went in for a routine outpatient endoscopy. During the procedure at a New York clinic, she stopped breathing. Doctors failed to secure her airway properly and allegedly took selfies. She suffered brain damage from oxygen deprivation and died days later. The case highlighted outpatient facility risks and lapses in basic safety protocols.
Michael Jackson (2009): His personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, administered the powerful anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid in a home setting, far outside standard guidelines. Jackson died of acute intoxication. Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. A tragic mix of celebrity demands and medical overreach.
Bill Paxton (2017): The actor died at 61 from a stroke following complications from heart surgery. Questions arose about post-operative care and whether risks were fully communicated or managed.
Other high-profile cases include Dana Carvey (botched heart bypass leaving him with ongoing issues), Maurice Gibb (Bee Gees, complications from a misdiagnosed bowel obstruction), and the twins of Dennis Quaid (near-fatal overdose of blood thinner due to pharmacy/hospital error).
Broader statistics paint a grim picture: studies have estimated medical errors contribute to 250,000+ deaths annually in the US alone — historically cited as the third leading cause of death.
Washington's physicians weren't villains; they were trapped in the dominant paradigm of their time. Today's doctors operate under their own "best practices," guidelines, and incentives (often shaped by bureaucracy, liability fears, and big Pharma influence). When those conflict with individual patient needs or emerging data, harm follows.
Malone's piece rightly calls for epistemic humility in medicine. Dogma, whether bloodletting in 1799, certain COVID protocols in 2020, or over-reliance on pharmaceuticals today, deserves scrutiny, not blind deference.
Questioning consensus when lives are on the line isn't anti-science. It's the most rational response to centuries of evidence that experts can be wrong, sometimes fatally.
https://www.malone.news/p/george-washington-father-of-the-country
