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taeli's review
3.0
It's an interesting book but I spent a large majority of it wondering how it possibly gets past HIPAA laws, even with changed names. He explains some of the downsides of the current US medical system and proposes ways that they could be changed. One of those ways is having a doctor who knows you fairly well and can tell when there are changes in your health.
One thing I found gross was his casual sexualization of some of his female patients.
One thing I found gross was his casual sexualization of some of his female patients.
jcburcham's review
4.0
My favorite parts of this book were about Fred and some of the author's other patients. Many of Dr. Reilly's expositions were fascinating and really made me think. I underlined several passages, including this one on page 244:
"For centuries, medicine had been considered more than a 'helping profession'; it was a vocation, akin in many respects to religious ministry. But in our increasingly secularized society, even the (non-religious) 'Samaritan' role of doctors--empathizing with and helping others, selflessly--has been devalued, sometimes even ridiculed in the ascendant business culture of medicine. This new culture has even changed our vocabulary. Doctors and nurses have become 'providers' of medical care, itself now a 'commodity.' Patients have become 'customers,' the 'consumers' of medical care."
Some of the expositions felt more like droning, and I wanted the author to hurry up and get back to the action, but I suspect that is more a reflection of me and my interest level in the moment rather than indication of poor writing or editing.
"For centuries, medicine had been considered more than a 'helping profession'; it was a vocation, akin in many respects to religious ministry. But in our increasingly secularized society, even the (non-religious) 'Samaritan' role of doctors--empathizing with and helping others, selflessly--has been devalued, sometimes even ridiculed in the ascendant business culture of medicine. This new culture has even changed our vocabulary. Doctors and nurses have become 'providers' of medical care, itself now a 'commodity.' Patients have become 'customers,' the 'consumers' of medical care."
Some of the expositions felt more like droning, and I wanted the author to hurry up and get back to the action, but I suspect that is more a reflection of me and my interest level in the moment rather than indication of poor writing or editing.
wordswithjustine's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot. I think I annoyed my husband with my frequent quoting from it, especially since he was hospitalized the week after I finished it.
bookwormmichelle's review
5.0
This was so good--both the medical stories and the resulting reflection on medicine and where it is going were fascinating and sounded very valid to me.
kaycee's review
4.0
I expected this to be a simple medical memoir -- a voyeuristic view of the inner workings of a hospital practice. And yes, One Doctor delivers that. However, I was thoroughly impressed at how expertly the author wove his patient examples into a survey of contemporary issues in the field of medicine -- how do we deliver the "best" care? what is "best", anyway? who pays for it? when do we say enough is enough?
I highly recommend this book to anyone who does medical decision-making -- which is all of us. The author refrains from offering pat solutions, and rather gives us a starting point for a series of civic conversations. Very well done.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who does medical decision-making -- which is all of us. The author refrains from offering pat solutions, and rather gives us a starting point for a series of civic conversations. Very well done.
cristy's review
4.0
An insightful look at the cogs within the great medicinal clock to which we here in the US have subjected ourselves. Some of the stories take very round-about ways to get to the end.
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