LIVING PROOF: A MEDICAL MUTINY

MAY 2003, VOL 77, NO 5

viewpoints are interjected LIVING PROOF: A MEDICAL MUTINY throughout the text. This is not a distraction and often gives readBy Michael Gearin-Tosh ers a different perspective. 2002, 334pp The book ends with a chapter $25 hardback on the authors’ predictions about the hture of health care. A hture T h i s is an excellent book for that is not so bright for managed health care providers, patients care organizations and in which with cancer, and family memthe home care industry grows and bers and friends of patients with demand for chronic care support cancer. There are lessons health increases are a few of their predic- care providers can learn from this tions. They recognize that the book, including really listening to extraordinary progress of medical their patients’ wishes and using a technology will transform medical team approach that includes practice in the hture but warn of patients when developing a plan issues related to cost, training, and of care. The author takes readers ethics. through the first year of his diag1 believe that this book nosis of multiple melanomas by achieved its goal of providing an sharing a journal that he wrote about his thoughts, his feelings, overview of the US health care system. Although an easy read, it and the reactions of others when contains a wealth of information they found out about his diagnoand takes time to complete. The sis. He tells of his search for the health care system is changing correct treatment, his interactions dramatically and rapidly in this with health care providers, especountry, and this text provides cially physicians, and his final information to help readers under- decision about treatment. The book is divided into two stand why these changes are happening and necessary. This is a parts, the first detailing the must read for anyone in the health author’s first year of living with care profession who has not taken cancer and the second detailing a recent course on health care his seventh year of survival. In the organization. It will help readers, first part, he shares with readers whether health care professionals his thoughts and feelings about or consumers, make knowledgeseeking care and trying to sort out able decisions about selection of all of the options for cancer theraservices. The book also aids in py. He also discusses why no one understanding the political influtherapy is good for all types of ences that will determine the cancer. In the second part, the hture of our health care system. author takes a more philosophical This book is available from look at his reasons for writing the Aspen Publishers, Inc, 200 book. Orchard Ridge Dr, Suite 200, The author is a fellow of St Gaithersburg, MD 20878; Catherine’s College, Oxford http://www,aspenpublishers.com. University, England. He teaches LAURIE SALETNIK English literature and is a visiting RN, BSN professor in the overseas departASSISTANTDIRECTOR OF NURSINQ ment of Stanford University, JOHNSHOPKINS HOSPITAL Calif. Through the years, he has BALTIMORE made many mends throughout the

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world, and he was able to call on their assistance during his research into cancer treatment. He admittedly knew nothing about what life had in store for him. He relied on friends and family members to help care for him and found that he had more friends than he thought. One of the author’s suggestions is always to have someone you trust go with you to medical appointments and take notes so you can go back through information at a later time. He wants readers to know there are many treatment options and that as consumers, they need to study and ask questions about how treatment will affect their bodies. Admittedly, he took a gamble by delaying his treatment and electing an unconventional treatment of nutrition, vitamin supplements, breathing exercises, visualization, and acupuncture, but it was the correct choice for him. The second part of the book is a philosophical look at why the author wrote the book. His physician presents his case study. The author also includes a detailed reference section and bibliography that are helpful. He challenges readers to take their health care into their own hands and make the best choice for themselves. He also challenges the medical community on giving conflicting advice. This book is available from Scribner, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020; http://www.simonandschuster.com. NANCY J. SHATTO RN, MSN, CNOR NURSEMANAQER DENVER VA MEDICAL CENTER ESSENTIALS OF HEALTH CARE FINANCE, fifth ed