Customer Reviews

Guarded Prognosis: A Doctor and His Patients Talk About Chronic Disease and How to Cope With It

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This book is concerned that the rights of patients are being eroded by insurance cutbacks and control. Its goal is to foster a national debate on wise use of medical resources. Dr. Lockshin uses touching and funny anecdotes of chronically ill patients he has treated. His compassion and care are revealed as is his fear for the direction the U.S. healthcare system may be heading. Chapter 4 on science and medicine will cause controversy among scientists and I disagree with Dr. Lockshin's views of the dichotomy between physicians and scientists. This book should be read by anyone with a chronic disease,their relatives,the medical profession, and public policy planners. In short it should be read by anyone planning to use healthcare services in the near future.

We often say that time passes quickly. Technology changes rather rapidly, but I wonder how much more changes rapidly. Dr. Lockshin originally published Guarded Prognosis in 1998. It's now 2011 and it has been released as an e-book. We now have digital books, music, media, and so much more. We are always connected to the world. Many things have changed, but many more remain slow to change. Guarded Prognosis is still relevant, perhaps more than ever, in an age of constant information sharing and discussion and debate about healthcare and anything else anyone could dream to discuss.

Dr. Lockshin illustrates his points about the big questions in healthcare today through stories about his patients throughout his decades in practice. He tackles the moral, as well as business-minded, quandaries of healthcare to move past the political pundits and buzz words that often cloud the realities of actual people but also gives readers the dollars and cents approach that, whether we like it or not, is part of the picture.

You will come away from this book more informed of the healthcare system and its triumphs and shortcomings, with a greater ability to debate and discuss, and asking more of the important questions that will hopefully lead to more solutions and better quality of life for all.

Congress has thoroughly debated the nation's health care needs and our healthcare system and has passed a sweeping healthcare reform bill - the Affordable Care Act. Now the Supreme Court is likely to get into the act so it is all the more important to read this book. In my view unfortunately, those who are running for the Republican nomination want to repeal this healthcare reform bill which in my opinion we so sorely need. I felt this book framed my thoughts and helped me understand why this issue is so important to the future of America. Those candidates and their supporters who oppose reform and all of us in fact should read this book and see why healthcare reform is critical. I strongly recommend this well-written and moving book.

According to CNN more than, more than 60% of U.S. bankruptcies are prompted by medical bills. Dr. Lockshin's book is composed of stories of patients with chronic disease and essays about the healthcare system issues they raise. It is a fascinating read. Anyone interested in the state of the healthcare system as seen from the knowledgeable point of view of a physician with vast experience in chronic illness should read this book.

For those Americans on Medicare, unexpected medical bills pose no financial threat. This is not the case for Americans without health insurance, and this is not the case for Americans with a chronic illness. Guarded Prognosis describes U.S. healthcare as it was 15 years ago and to our nation's discredit not much has changed since. These touching stories of patients and their interaction with a costly, inefficient and often inhumane healthcare system illustrate how important it is that the Affordable Care Act passed last year be fully implemented. Unfortunately, there are many politicians whose stated goal is repealing "Obama Care." This beautifully written book illustrates why the American electorate should not allow this to happen. Anyone interested in health care (their own or others') should read this book.

I have never liked the term `Obamacare' since it is used as a pejorative and in reality the Affordable Care Act aka `Obamacare' is and will be a real step forward in making healthcare available to all Americans regardless of their ability to pay.

This book describes an American healthcare system in desperate need of reform. Michael Lockshin, the type of physician we would all like to have, has written a moving description of the way our healthcare system should work. Hopefully `Obamacare' will get us there.

Important read in today's (lack of) healthcare crisis. Concise,thoughtful but not so technical.Suggest it shoul be read by legislators and our supreme court justices.