This is a must read, especially for medical peoples ...
342504
This is a must read, especially for medical peoples.  Care for your patients, then pray, realizing all we do for them is still in God's hands.  Asking HIM to intervene completes the cycle of healing.  Without spiritual intervention (which maybe the most important component in healing) medicine is incomplete.  Dr. Levy has "hit the nail on the head".
4895839
After suffering from a chronic, fatal, debilitating, but "invisible" to the public illness for the last 7 years, I realized after about 20 pages that I would love this book.  I kept a highlighter or pen through the entire book as it goes through different phases or feelings through illness.  I have passed it onto my mother, who has been my primary caretaker.  I would recommend this book to any patient or caretaker, and it should be mandatory reading in medical school.
1045256
a MUST read for ALL in the field of health care!  There is SO much valuable information within this story that could massively improve the care of critical patients while supporting their families that endure life altering challenges as well!...with little $$ or time!  Just some basic MUCH NEEDED common sense! THIS book should be mandatory before receiving ANY medically related degree!!
4536367
as I recovered from a pretty major surgery, I read this book.  The subject matter intrigued me as I had just been in a hospital and encountered many interns.  This book was very enlightening.  The conditions doctors must endure in order to prove themselves and earn their title is insane. I am very grateful that such a skilled writer would offer us a glimpse into the mysterious profession of modern medicine.  It has been two years since I read this book, and I have read many others since then.  However, I still recall that this book was well written - easy to read, hard to put down.  The knowledge I have gained, has also left an indelible mark.  While our doctors are very well educated and intelligent, they are still very much human -and should be regarded as such.  A must read for anyone who is considering entry into the medical profession or who will call upon the services of our doctors in a hospital setting...
1468489
This book brings to light many things that people outside of the medical field don't realize actually goes on. As a paramedic this book has brought me many key insights into what my patients may be experiencing in their later years, while facing the lose of  their independence. If you have the time to sit down and read this book, I highly recommend it for ANY care provider.
4653370
Every medical student should read this book so they are adequately prepared for what is at the end of tunnel.  This is the stuff that should be taught at medical school but isn't.  This book should be read again once they near the end of residency and through to the other side to avoid the pitfalls that far too many professionals fall into after the long journey of training.  Their newfound freedom requires even more careful management than ever before.  A must read for physicians and professionals alike.
981895
Anyone interested in the medical field should read this. Sweet's writing is simple and clear and makes you dwell on the importance of recognizing each patient as a true person. She tends to be somewhat detailed when explaining the various patient cases, but I appreciated her thoroughness. Overall, an easy read--but one that will still make you think carefully about modern medicine and its patients.
2071511
THIS IS A "MUST READ" BOOK FOR ANYONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING ANY TYPE OF MEDICAL PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY A SERIOUS OR LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS SUCH AS MINE. I HAVE BREAST CANCER, AND THIS BOOK HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN GUIDING ME ON THE "HOW TO'S" OF GAINING THE PROPER MEDICAL RECORDS, ANALYZING THEM AND MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS ON MY CARE. I WOULD NOT HAVE ANY TYPE OF SURGERY OR UNDERGO TREATMENT EVER AGAIN WITHOUT CONSULTING THE GUIDES THIS BOOK OFFERS TO HELP ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE I AM GETTING THE CARE I NEED, AND THE RECORDS ARE ACCURATE AND FILED IN THE PROPER CHART. HEALTHCARE IS VERY SCARY THESE DAYS, AND THIS BOOK CAN HELP TO SAVE NOT ONLY YOUR LIFE, BUT SOME HEARTBREAKING ERRORS FROM OCCURRING WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE.  I WISH I HAD READ THIS BOOK MUCH EARLIER. GREAT AUTHOR!!!!
2602974
I think that everyone should read this book.  As a retired medical professional, I am so aware and so tired of Doctor Worship.  No, your doctor is not God; he is a very educated man in a very narrow field.  He knows what he was taught in medical school and now learns from non-medical sales reps hired by pharmaceutical companies to push their products.  Doctors today do not have the time to read anything but the bare minimum of medical journals.  They know nothing about methods that worked very well before antibiotics were discovered.  They know nothing about methods that were actually in their PDR's to help them diagnosis.  That is why they treat the symptoms not the disease.  This book covers many great discoveries that have been kept undercover to protect the greed and power of the AMA (not the average doctor who knows nothing about any of this).
3230284
I liked this book.  A friend of mine recommended me to read this book.  Although I am not a medical doctor myself, I was very encouraged to read and recommend it to the medical students to learn and apply not only to treat people with chemicals but really treat the cause or roots of the illness that causes the dis ease.
Thank you Dr. Loyd for writing this book.
1537194
For those who are going into the medical field, this is an awesome book.
2663785
Doctors are trained to see things differently: to fix, to heal, to prevent, to listen, to guide, to solve.  Amidst the successes of every doctor- in fact, despite and in conjunction with their successes the author would argue- are many uncertainties, inconsistencies, and mistakes that come with being human.  The author puts himself in such a vulnerable position, making this book what I think is very brave, very real, very intimate, but also scary enough to make any public relations consultant cringe.

Having worked in the healthcare industry, I could relate easily to the author's stories. Even those without a background in science/healthcare would be able to easily appreciate these stories- they are very interesting and well written, and no medical knowledge is required (though those with it will have a deeper understanding).  The only thing I wished for when I started reading was better referencing of research material and scientific articles throughout the book.  Upon finishing the book I can see why it was written in this way- it reads more like a collection of short stories. Keeping all references and citations at the end keeps the book less cluttered and less intimidating.

Medicine is science, it is healthcare, it is politics.  This book is an important glimpse at medicine through the eyes of one surgical resident and his experiences with patients, families, and colleagues.  How he found time to have a family, pursue writing a book, write news columns, go through surgical residency/practice medicine practically all at once is beyond me.  Maybe he will share his secrets in his next book.  Until then, check this one out.  You won't look at your doctor the same again, or at least you will hopefully ask more questions.  Get a second opinion if think you need one, be a good patient, have patience, and remain in awe at the wonders that our doctors do on a daily basis.
2781761
While I agree with the previous poster, that this book could use some editing, it is definately on my "must read" list.  Dr Carlson does a great job in explaining how the current dietary guidance today is actually causing many of our medical conditions, and leading our society to take more and more prescriptions.  He advocates a natural, healthy, low carb approach to living, and explains how the body functions on that.

He also explains why more doctors are not advocating this life style.  This book is an easy read, and will not take long to complete.  However, the information in here is very well laid out and explained.  His narrative style is very conversational and easy to follow, although he doesn't always sound like a Doctor.

Give this book a read, you will enjoy reading this book and learning more about the real truth in Nutrition.
2900532
Dr. Groopman really delves into how doctors come to certain conclusions about a patient's diagnosis.  He reviews various case studies and interviews various doctors to clearly drive the message that doctors need to think differently and patients need to ask questions that will enable doctors to think differently.  He also mentions some questions that patients can ask to get a doctor to channel his or her thinking elsewhere. I highly recommend both patients and doctors read this book.

This subject is very dear to my heart because I spent over four years being misdiagnosed until I found a doctor who discovered the problem.  Once discovered, my insurance company refused to pay for an operation I needed because they felt I was new to this "diagnosing" doctor and he hadn't tried enough drugs to cure me even when many of the other doctors had prescribed the same or similar drugs in the past without any results. I had taken my case to the Independent Physicians Review Board (IPRO) which is at the state level and the last resort for HMO rulings to be overturned.  They even ruled against the operation and said I needed to try more drugs.  What was interesting was that the operation was also suppose to fix a structural defect in addition to everything else.  Since when are structural defects cured by drugs?  I called IPRO on this and got the response (after several weeks) that they didn't know that was a problem.

I hope Dr. Groopman writes a sequel to this book on how insurance companies perpetuate the suffering related to how doctors are thinking.  In essence insurance companies are also "diagnosing" problems incorrectly without ever seeing the patient by disagreeing with a doctor's conclusion (via paperwork) and what the doctor's recommended treatment should be.

I recommend you take charge of your health care and learn the pitfalls doctors and patients fall into.  What an excellent book in my opinion.
983351
Considering that she is a surgeon, I was curious about what Dr. Starla Fitch's "remedy for burnout" would be as I read this book. It didn't take long to discover that beneath the brain of a doctor lives the heart of a true healer. Dr. Fitch's compassion, empathy and desire to support her fellow medical professionals is not only creative and practical, but touching indeed.

As a patient, it gave me a peek like never before behind the curtain of the experience of being a doctor. Cynicism is rampant in our western culture, as business and money dictates many healthcare decisions rather than actual health care. How refreshing it is to be reminded of the humanity that led many doctors to choose medicine in the first place - and I believe this book will not only support the well being of medical personnel, but it also has the potential to heal the doctor-patient divide that so often exists nowadays.

Thank you, Dr. Fitch, for bringing your compassion and heart to the medical community so that we all may benefit from greater connection and well being. This book is a blessing that will uplift anyone who reads it.
3014961
As a healthcare provider I appreciated his openness and insights...what an excellent writer...grabbed my attention from the beginning to the end...it is among the few books I have read that I didn't want to end.  As I talked about the book at work (and highly recommended it) I found a colleague who had just read it as well.. We agree it should be required reading for those in healthcare.  It touches on an aspect of relationship between physician and patient that needs to be raised to a new level of awareness. I feel as though I "know" Paul and though he is not here to contribute to neuroscience he has made a remarkable impact on the medical field through his book.
1745082
Dr. Verma does an amazing job turning his touching experiences with patients and poverty into words.  Through his poems the reader is immersed in the emotions and tribulations he is faced serving a neglected community.  The poems are written in a format easy to grasp for medical and non medical persons alike.

This is a must read for any pre-med, medical student, resident physician, practicing physician, and humanitarian. The book is broken up into themes; poverty, patients, providers, and process.  The 4 P's provide an excellent structure and flow.  Attacking underserved medicine from these 4 P's helps put the complex system into a more simple problem structure.

Dr. Verma donates his proceeds to organizations working towards alleviating medical inequality, both domestically and internationally.

Dr. Verma's book is a motivational piece - I walked away after this quick read asking myself if I am doing my part to UNDO INACTION.  Are yoU?