Surviving Your Doctors: Why the Medical System is Dangerous to Your Health and How to Get Through it Alive

by Richard S. Klein

Overview

Surviving Your Doctors, with its in-depth explanations, guidance, and direction will be the basic training manual patients need to work their way through the health care maze. It serves as a map of the medical minefield, told from the perspective of a doctor yet designed to reveal the faults in the system and the things that can and do go wrong during the course of both routine and special procedures and office visits. Filled with real stories of medical mishaps, anecdotes, and checklists, this book will walk readers through major areas of the medical world - from the doctor's office to the pharmacy, from the laboratory to the ER - giving them a clearer picture of how things really work, what health care workers really think, and how to take back control of their health and the care they receive.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442201415
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	01/16/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	576 KB

About the Author

Richard S. Klein, M.D., is a practicing physician specializing in internal medicine and infectious diseases. An associate professor of medicine, Dr. Klein also teaches at New York Medical College. He is the author of From Anecdote to Antidote.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I: Everday Medical and Health Concerns
Chapter 1. Taking Control of Your Healthcare: Or, the Wisdom of Second and Third Opinions
Chapter 2. Insurance Companies: Organized Crime or Just Bad Policies?
Chapter 3. An Apple A Day: And Other Things to Protect Your Health When Visiting the Doctor's Office
Chapter 4. Does Your Kid Really Need That Shot?: Protecting Your Children in the System
Chapter 5. The Pharmacy and Prescription Drugs: Or Beware, the Spoonful of Sugar That Helps the 'Bad Medicine' Go Down
Chapter 6. Visiting the ER without Feeling Like a Bit Player on a TV Drama

Part II: Major Diseases and Long-Term Issues
Chapter 7. A Real Heart-to-Heart about Cardiac Care
Chapter 8. How to Handle the Big C from A to Z
Chapter 9. Baby Boom or Bust: How to Stroll through Maternity, Neonatal, and Fertiltiy Issues
Chapter 10. You Give Me Fever: Infection and Communicable Diseases
Chapter 11. How to Maintain Some Sanity in the Mental Health System

Part III: The Hospital and Major Procedures
Chapter 12. Hospital Out-Patient Visits and How to Make Sure that You Actually Get Out
Chapter 13. Hosptial Stays: As Dangerous as a War Zone?
Chapter 14. Medical Test and How to Avodi Becomding a Lab Rat
Chapter 15. Major Surgeries: Or, How to Make Sure You Still Have a Leg to Stand on Afterward

Part IV: The Future of Medicine
Chapter 16. A Cure for the Medical System

Editorial Reviews

This is a courageous expose of negligent practices in his own profession and serves as an important guide for people in need of medical care.

Dee DelBello

Filled with real stories of medical mishaps, anecdotes and checklists, this book will walk readers through major areas of the medical world - from the doctor's office to the pharmacy, from the laboratory to the emergency room - giving them a clearer picture of how things really work, what health care workers really think, and how to take back control of your health and the care you receive.

Vicksburg Post

Klein is a practicing physician who has often testified as an expert witness in cases alleging medical malpractice. From his two perspectives, he offers an insightful look at all the things that can—and often do—go wrong in medicine, from doctors inducing infection to mix-ups in patient records and prescriptions....A very valuable resource, particularly as the nation considers overhauling the health-care system.

Booklist

Surviving Your Doctors: Why the Medical System is Dangerous to Your Health and How to Get Through it Alive describes details of various illnesses as well as what happens or can happen during an emergency room or doctor's office visit. There's plenty of information here that you won't find anywhere else. Dr. Klein tells us what we should know ahead of time and steps we should take to help insure the safety and health of our loved ones and ourselves.... This is a well written informative health book that should be on everyone's bookshelves. It might save your life.

Midwest Book Review

Bravo Dr. Richard Klein for exposing the dangers patients face due to negligent hospital and physician care.

Alfred DelBello

The advice given to patients is appropriate….The central theme that patients need to do the work to keep themselves safe within the system deserves attention.

Family Medicine

Dr. Klein provides a practical and detailed analysis of what patients should know about the health care system, so they can become more informed health care consumers.

William H. Frishman M.D.

This book is a timely and much-needed guide to getting the best care possible out of a flawed system, offering patients a prescription for maneuvering their way through the healthcare maze.... From emergency rooms to pharmacies; from surgery to doctor's office, this book reveals how things really work, what medical workers really think and how to take back control of your health and the care you receive.

The Sunday Republican

Dr. Kleins' book hits the nail on the head. The lack of quality care and the danger in many of our hospitals is a timely issue as our nation considers health care reform. It's important that everyone take control of their own health care and protect themselves against careless practitioners. His examples and advice on taking more control of one's own health care will go a long way to creating a better and safer system.

Andrew J. Spano

This passionate and smart book is by someone who both deeply understands how sick our health care system is and what the best remedies are to make it well. The state and country need more doctor-advocates like Richard Klein.

Mark Green

Klein is a practicing physician who has often testified as an expert witness in cases alleging medical malpractice. From his two perspectives, he offers an insightful look at all the things that can—and often do—go wrong in medicine, from doctors inducing infection to mix-ups in patient records and prescriptions....A very valuable resource, particularly as the nation considers overhauling the health-care system.

Booklist