30 day mortality rate is 1.4% vs. 1.9% in the US in 2008 [1]. The claim is that due to the high volume and single service, the surgeons get an awful lot of practice at the procedure and become very good at it.
Same here, got salmonella in Los Angeles eating at a subway. Point being, you can get sick anywhere, other factors include your body getting used to new organisms.
My Indian friend who spent ten years in US went to visit his parents, he said he was going to buy bottled water while there and boil it before drinking. He was genuinely anxious about catching something.
So yes, the low mortality rate after surgeries is actually a surprise for me.
The reason for your colleague's stomach flu might be because of some unsafe food. Most hospitals and clinics are infact quite clean and well maintained.
[1] http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/business-old/the-hen...