Confessions of a Medical Heretic [Hardcover]

Robert S. Mendelsohn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1979

Covers issues from unnecessary surgeries and prescribed drugs to preventive medicine and home births.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 191 pages
• Publisher: Contemporary Books (June 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809277263
• ISBN-13: 978-0809277261
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #977,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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146 of 150 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Doctor Confesses All, November 22, 2003

By 

Stephen Pletko "Uncle Stevie" (London, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Confessions of a Medical Heretic (Paperback)

+++++

The idea behind this book can be ascertained from its title. The word "confession" means to admit. What the late Dr. Robert Mendelsohn does is to admit truths about what he calls the "Church of Modern Medicine." A "heretic" is a person who professes to heresy. A heresy is any opinion opposed to established doctrines.

Thus, Mendelsohn in his book tells us truths and his opinions (based on his excellent qualifications) regarding orthodox medicine. His opinions are angry ones. (I'd be angry too if I spent my entire life in orthodox medicine only to discover that it is not what it claims to be.) Like anyone who is angry, the author occasionally goes off on tangents but overall he sticks to the main premise of the book.

What is the premise of this book? Mendelsohn tells us this immediately in the book's opening section called the "Non Credo." He states, "I do not believe in modern medicine. I am a medical heretic. My aim of this book is to persuade you to become a heretic, too." (Notice, that contrary to popular belief, the premise of this book is not to tell you to stop seeing your doctor.)

Each chapter (there are nine) of this book has many truths. These truths are not out-of-date and will probably remain relevant into the far future. Here are just three examples:

1) "Every drug stresses and hurts your body in some way."
2) "A healthy society is characterized by strong, positive family relationships and subsequent minimal need of doctors."
3) "Doctors are not trained to attack the core of any problem, merely to suppress symptoms."

Sometimes, the author juxtaposes two truths to make a point. My favorite: "All their [that is, doctors'] intentions may be good, but we all know what the road to Hell is paved with."

What I really noticed about this book is the author's strong opinions. Here, again, are three examples:

1) "Doctors in general should be treated with the same degree of trust as used-car salesmen."
2) "When I meet a doctor, I generally figure I'm meeting a person who is narrow-minded, prejudiced, and fairly incapable of reasoning and deliberation."
3) "Get used to the idea right away that no single system can or should claim to have an exclusive fix on the dynamics of health."

There is even discussion about non-drug medicine. Mendelsohn states, "In the Church of Modern Medicine, the doctor who treats without drugs is regarded as a heretic because he or she appears to have rejected the sacrament of medication." Today, orthodox medicine calls such people "quacks." One of the people they call a quack, the author mentions, is Dr. Linus Pauling because he wanted to treat without drugs. The late Linus Pauling was a two-time Nobel Prize winner. Question: What gives orthodox medicine the right to call such a brilliant person a quack? His credentials prove otherwise.

The book's last section is called, "Epilog: In search of the New Doctor." It is an interesting section where Mendelsohn gives his vision of the doctor of the future. This vision has yet to be achieved and my guess is, it will never be achieved.

The only problem I had with this book is the lack of footnotes with respect to specific numbers and statistics. When statistics are given, you have to give credit to their source. However, Mendelsohn does supply many references.

Another good book on this subject that is less opinionated is "The Medical Mafia" (1995) by Dr. Guylaine Lanctot. I think this title is a good indicator of its contents.

In conclusion, Dr. Robert Mendelsohn's book does a good job in exposing the truths behind orthodox medicine. These truths are what you and your family should know for their own protection. I strongly recommend this book if you want to become aware of these truths.

**** 1/2

+++++

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn about the battle going on, October 27, 2005

By 

Beatrice Amstoy (Elkins USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Confessions of a Medical Heretic (Paperback)

"A hospital is like a war" Here you have it from a doctor who has been there and done that. As he describes the things that go on in a hospital it is amazing that anyone comes out alive. It does not surprise we when they are several people I personally know who have gotten very ill in a hospital from something COMPLETELY unrelated to why they entered. This book needs to be read by all.

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars refreshing, April 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Confessions of a Medical Heretic (Paperback)

This book confirmed many things that I had already known or suspected about the practice of medicine. I really liked how the author dug into the philosophical aspects of doctor/patient relationships: the absolute power we give them. And it was neat to find someone -- a doctor even -- who agreed with my perception that doctors have their own secret language which protects their knowledge (their power) and wouldn't you know, it's LATIN. (If you're a devout Catholic be forewarned.) But best of all, this book is absolutely hilarious. You might as well keep your sense of humor in all of this, and I found myself laughing out loud as I read.