Product Description

Everyone knows of the Hippocratic Oath, the famous invocation sworn by all neophyte physicians. But most don't realize that the father of modern medicine was an avid listener and a constant bedside presence. Hippocrates believed in the doctor-patient connection and gained worldwide renown for championing science over mysticism while respecting and advocating the potency of human healing. Today, argues Dr. David H. Newman, medicine focuses narrowly on the rewards of technology and science, exaggerating their benefits and ignoring or minimizing their perils. Dr. Newman sees a disconnect between doctor and patient, a disregard for the healing power of the bond, and, ultimately, a disconnect between doctors and their Oath.

The root of this divergence, writes Dr. Newman, lies in the patterns of secrecy and habit that characterize the "House of Medicine," modern medicine's entrenched and carefully protected subculture. In reflexive, often unconscious defense of this subculture, doctors and patients guard medical authority, cling to tradition, and yield to demands that they do something or prescribe something. The result is a biomedical culture that routinely engages in unnecessary and inefficient practices, and leaves both patient and doctor dissatisfied. While demonstrating an abiding respect for, and a deep understanding of, the import of modern science, Dr. Newman reviews research that refutes common and accepted medical wisdom. He cites studies that show how mammograms may cause more harm than good; why antibiotics for sore throats are virtually always unnecessary and therefore dangerous; how cough syrup is rarely more effective than a sugar pill; the power and paradox of the placebo effect; how statistics and studies themselves are frequently deceptive; and why CPR is violent, invasive -- and almost always futile.

Through an engaging, deeply researched, and eloquent narrative laced with rich and riveting case studies, Newman cuts to the heart of what really works -- and doesn't -- in medicine and rebuilds the bridge between physicians and their patients.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #450562 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781416551539
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Review
"Dr. Newman's book is insightful and thought provoking. He teaches the reader about aspects of medicine that many of us, lay people as well as physicians, do not understand or appreciate, including the imperfection of the 'science' of medicine as well as the progressive loss of the 'art of medicine.' Anyone who wishes to better understand the promise and limitations of medicine should read this book."-- Geoffrey Kurland, M.D., author of My Own Medicine: A Doctor's Life as a Patient

Review
"In Hippocrates' Shadow, Dr. Newman sits us down for the doctor-patient chat we've been longing for -- a refreshingly candid, daringly inquisitive discussion of the uneasiness that exists on both sides of the medical care equation these days. There is a cure for what ails us, and Newman doses it in thoughtful, perceptive proposals that make good sense. In the end, everyone feels a whole lot better. There is hope."-- Amy Silverstein, author of Sick Girl

"There are few books that I really almost cannot put down, but Hippocrates' Shadow is one. A stunning indictment of current medical practice by a hard-headed doc tested in big-city emergency rooms, combat hospitals in Iraq, and at his mom's bedside. If your doctor is this frank with you, you are a very lucky patient, and you are getting a lot better (and sometimes a lot less) treatment than most."-- Melvin Konner, MD, PhD, author of Becoming a Doctor

"Dr. Newman's book is insightful and thought provoking. He teaches the reader about aspects of medicine that many of us, lay people as well as physicians, do not understand or appreciate, including the imperfection of the 'science' of medicine as well as the progressive loss of the 'art of medicine.' Anyone who wishes to better understand the promise and limitations of medicine should read this book."-- Geoffrey Kurland, M.D., author of My Own Medicine: A Doctor's Life as a Patient

"A clear-sighted, heartfelt, and humane story of the needless tests and treatments that cripple health care -- and how to get rid of them. As a guide to good medicine, it may help us get back to the essence of what good doctors do: be with patients in healing."-- Samuel Shem, M.D., author of The House of God, Mount Misery, and The Spirit of the Place

About the Author
David H. Newman, M.D., runs a clinical research program and teaches at Columbia University and in the Department of Emergency Medicine at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center. He has also been widely published in biomedical journals. In 2005, as a major in the army reserve, he was deployed to Iraq, where he received an Army Commendation Medal. He lives in New York City

Customer Reviews

Extraordinary. Can't get it out of my head
I am an emergency physician, trained via the same process as Dr. Newman. He and I learned the same skills, ways of thinking, and axioms. But, he took the time to actually investigate what we are doing- and lo and behold, much of it is flawed, dehumanized and wrong. It's not often that a book changes your practice and way of thinking- but this is it. My perspective, practice and teaching recently reflect Newman's. Recommended for all health workers, and should be a mandatory part of the medical student curriculum.

An Interesting Perspective
I am not ordinarily a fan of the anecdotal insert, but in this book it works. Dr. Newman brings a different perspective to the issue of evidence-based medicine, due to his experiences as a combat doctor and emergency room physician. His is a more laid-back style than other books in this field, and is very accessible. He provides specific examples of how our system repeatedly delivers health-care that has been proven ineffective or even outright harmful, while ignoring procedures that have been shown to be useful.

For me, the most fascinating part of the book was the section on "pseudoaxioms" -- medical practices which are enshrined in tradition and totally resistant to all evidence of their lack of efficacy.

I am taking one star off this review for abuse of footnotes. Footnotes can be very valuable to provide tangential or technical information, to be read or ignored as the reader prefers, but all too often in this book the information was essential to the point being made in the text and should have been in the body, not in a footnote. Constantly dropping down to check the footnotes made for a choppy reading flow.

Despite this annoyance, this book is a very good addition to the essential reading list in this area: Nortin Hadler's "The Last Well Person," H. Gilbert Welch's "Should I Be Tested for Cancer?", and Gerd Gigerenzer's "Calculated Risks."

A truly important book
This is a fascinating, honest, and clearly well researched book.
Dr. Newman is skillful in combining anecdotes of his real world experience in "the house of medicine" with thorough research to support his arguments. In addition, I respect that he does not exempt himself from criticism acknowledging that he too is a part of the world of healthcare today. I am a physician, and I can truly say that I learned a lot. Whether you are someone who requires frequent follow up with your physician, or one of the lucky ones who sees his doctor for preventative care only, or you are simply in the market for an intelligent and thought provoking book "Hippocrates' Shadow is a must read.