The patient paradox
Subtitle: why sexed-up medicine is bad for your health
By: Margaret McCartney
Publisher: Pinter & Martin
Published: 2012
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 335
ISBN-13: 9781780660004
Subjects: Physical Diagnosis; Physical diagnosis; Examinations, questions; Physician-Patient Relations; Mass Screening; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Medicalization; Diagnostics; Méthodologie; Politique de la santé; Santé publique; Industrie pharmaceutique; Soins médicaux; Protection du consommateur; Health and Fitness; Health and Wellbeing
Description: "Welcome to the world of sexed-up medicine, where patients have been turned into customers, and clinics and waiting rooms are jammed with healthy people, lured in to have their blood pressure taken and cholesterol, smear test, bowel or breast screening done. In the world of sexed-up medicine pharmaceutical companies gloss over research they don't like and charities often use dubious science and dodgy PR to 'raise awareness' of their disease, leaving a legacy of misinformation in their wake. Our obsession with screening swallows up the time of NHS staff and the money of healthy people who pay thousands to private companies for tests they don't need. Meanwhile, the truly sick are left to wrestle with disjointed services and confusing options. Explaining the truth behind the screening statistics and investigating the evidence behind the hype, Margaret McCartney, an award-winning writer and doctor, argues that this patient paradox - too much testing of well people and not enough care for the sick - worsens health inequalities and drains professionalism, harming both those who need treatment and those who don't"--Publisher's description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.