Review of Understanding modern heallth care

[Kyle Hylan-Corcoran]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Understanding modern heallth care" by Steve fredman.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Medical care is at its best and its worst. The world's premier scientists and doctors are developing medicines and techniques that transform the lives of the sick. However, capitalists have had their say and have made it extremely difficult to navigate the variegated and extortionate business of healthcare.

Steve Fredman, M.D., in his book Understanding Modern Healthcare, explains how the United States became the most expensive place to seek medical care. From vaccines to medical devices, Fredman explores the medical innovations of the modern world and the scientists behind them. Through both technical explanations and personal anecdotes, he helps the reader understand the basics of the inventions that make us healthier. He also explains how corporations exploit their vast wealth and influence to make life-saving medicines inaccessible to working-class Americans and developing nations alike.

This book is extensively researched, engaging and powerful. Fredman takes great care to inform the reader of the lives of people that made great advances in modern medicine. Every scientist gets their tribute in this book and it greatly enhances the experience of learning about complex pharmaceuticals and devices. Fredman's lived experience also helps the reader visualize how medical innovations improve our health and how ruthless capitalists make lives difficult for patients. Most importantly, Fredman expertly weaves together the story of how America became one of the only industrialized countries to see healthcare as a commodity and not as a right.

While there were no strongly negative aspects to this book, improvements can still be made. This volume has not shown evidence of professional editing. The grammar errors are numerous and sometimes egregious (an entire paragraph was duplicated in error). Additionally, there were no footnotes or endnotes to indicate where specific figures came from. While Fredman did include a bibliography and a web link to his sources, the book would benefit from a formal research book format. If the reader wished to explore a particular article of information more extensively, they would be out of luck because the specific source will not be linked.

Since this book was flawless except for its editing and format, I will award this book 3 out of 4 stars. This is a must-read for anyone interested in science and medicine, as well as public policy. I would also recommend this book to a broader audience because it has the potential to create a more informed citizenry regarding their healthcare and the economic drivers behind it.

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Understanding modern heallth care
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[marta baglioni]

This is a very important topic. It will be interesting to read. Thank you