Less Than Human

This book is about the truth in medicine as experienced by the author. Since medicine requires a high degree of training, part of the truth discusses issues experienced in the advanced education system and the societal spillover along with issues specific to medical training. Medicine these days is practiced under heavy-handed political, litigation and media influence; thus, this book offers offers unflattering critique of the American political, media and legal systems which have conspired to destroy the doctor patient relationship. The greatest healthcare coup against physicians is the media propaganda convincing people to mistrust their doctors and have blind faith in politicians. Anyone who thinks onerous regulations taking the focus of healthcare away from the patient and placing the emphasis on compliance and total government submission is a good idea needs to try being a patient these days. When you see the true cost of Compliance Medicine upon society it is little wonder we now use a larger portion of a larger GNP on healthcare than ever before and have enormous patient dissatisfaction along with a critical physician shortage. Years ago rumor implied doctors were greedy, yet all the so called "extra spending" in healthcare went into direct patient care. Today much of the healthcare expense is tied up in preventing patient care. Unfortunately, the government answer to the problem excessive bureaucracy is even more bureaucracy, which serves to further sever the doctor-patient relationship and discourage people from becoming healthcare professionals. There are some comedic anecdotes within the book, but many of the issues weigh heavily on doctors and society. If you ever intend to be a physician or a patient, this book will apply to you.