TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR MEDICAL FATE

This intense ""how-to"" guide stresses that questioning your physician in depth can mean the difference between life and death--by a practicing M.D. who was formerly staff director of the US Senate Subcommittee on Health. Horowitz first reveals the large variations that exist at every level of health-care delivery: in the skill level and treatment preferences of different physicians; in the mortality rates at different hospitals; in the results obtained from different laboratories. He describes the system that encourages overprescription of drugs, and shows how ""styles of practice"" in particular geographic areas influence recommendations for surgery--urging that everyone become his or her own advocate, or appoint a surrogate advocate, to assure the best possible care. Horowitz lists a large number of questions that should be asked when choosing a family doctor, a surgeon, and a specialist, as well as questions to be asked regarding diagnosis and recommended therapies. Methods of researching treatment alternatives, and what to do if the doctor says there is nothing more to be done, are also included. It may take a particular type of personality lo put all of these extremely detailed recommendations into action, but everyone should at least be aware of the state of the medical care system depicted by this author.