Confessions of a Medical Heretic, by Robert S. Mendelsohn, M. D. (McGraw-Hill, 1979)
A quick review of this so I can get it off my desk and back on the bookshelf: There's no doubt that modern medicine has lengthened and improved our lives; the underside of that story is that modern medicine has also shortened our lives, and in many ways diminished their quality. If you're not already half convinced of the second part of that statement, you'll find Dr. Mendelsohn's style hard to get through. I believe him, and I still wanted to scream by about the 40th time he beat to death his otherwise illuminating analogy of modern medicine as a religion.It's worth reading, however, especially if your faith in doctors, hospitals, and prescription medications is strong. A little exposure to the harm that has been done in the name of health care is enough to let in some creeping doubts that nationalizing this commodity is the right path to take. At the very least it will make you a little more alert next time you step into a medical facility.
Sceptics will be quick to point out that the book was written in 1979, but if anyone thinks the basic situation has improved in the last 30 years, I'll point out that while progress has been made in some areas, the underlying philosophies and approaches remain.
I am not denouncing all of modern medicine, much less renouncing it. Mendelsohn himself has good things to say, especially about emergency medicine. But even religion shouldn't be taken completely on faith. An awareness of the dangers lurking behind hospital doors can be very good for our health.
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