Hope or Hype: The Obsession with Medical Advances and the High Cost of False Promises

Richard A. Deyo; Patrick, Donald L., Ph.D.

ISBN 10: 0814408451 / ISBN 13: 9780814408452

Published by Amacom Books, 2005

Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0814408451I3N10

Synopsis:

"Medical science has always promised -- and often delivered -- a longer, better life. But as the pace of science accelerates, do our expectations become unreasonable, fueled by an industry bent on profits and a media desperate for big news?

Hope or Hype is a taboo-shattering look at what drives the American obsession with medical ""miracles,"" exposing the equipment manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies; doctors and hospitals too quick to order surgery; the politicians; the press; and our own ""technoconsumption"" mindset. The authors spread blame for the parade of so-called miracle cures that too often are marginally effective at best -- and sometimes downright dangerous. They examine consumers’ eager embrace of medical advances, and present riveting stories of the conscientious doctors and researchers who blew the whistle on ineffective treatments. Finally, they provide sane, practical recommendations for the adoption of new developments.

The consequences of questionable practices include costly recalls, billions in wasted money, and the pain and suffering of innumerable patients and their families. In short, they must stop."

About the Author:

Deyo and Patrick are professors at the University of Washington. Deyo was co-recipient of the Nellie WestermanPrize for research in medical ethics. He directs a fellowship program for policy-relevant research training, as well as the university’s Center for Cost and Outcomes Research.

Patrick is noted for his work on the links between quality of life, cost-effectiveness, and health policy. He has worked on drug studies for a wide variety of illnesses, and is a member of the Institute of Medicine, the most prestigious organization of health experts in the U.S.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Hope or Hype: The Obsession with Medical ...
Publisher: Amacom Books
Publication Date: 2005
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket