Customer Reviews

The Secrets of Medical Decision Making: How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of the Health Care Machine

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House, E.R. and Grays Anatomy are not realistic portrayals of the American medical system. According to Dr. Resnik physicians are so afraid of litigation that any deviation from pre-set protocols to treat the patient as an individual and not the so-called disease is unusual. Doctors like Greg House, John Carter would be immediately dismissed and find it impossible to acquire mal-practice insurance. It is chilling to think that the media inspired idea of the omnipotent good-hearted doctor like Marcus Welby or reassuring throaty voiced Dr. Kelly Bracket from Emergency is so false.
When sickness strikes us or a loved one, we expect that in this technological twenty-first century age of marvels that just like our cars or appliances that have `crapped the bed':
A. We can be fixed with some kind of medication or therapy.
Or
B. Our parts can be removed and replaced and we can continuer our lives already in progress and unabated.

Doctor Reznik has pried our heads from the sand, removed our rose-colored glasses and has cut off our source of pap from the glass teat. He has taught us to advocate for ourselves and ask questions, even while the insurance and pharmaceutical behemoths perpetuate the myth that an American homeostasis of mental and physical health is only one more pill, test or procedure away.

Dr Reznik has written a highly informative book that Americans need to read for the knowledge that most of us don't have. In today's constantly changing medical world, we need all the help that we can get. Many thanks to Dr Reznik for sharing with us.

(posted for a friend in Cicero, NY, not able to access the website)

Oleg I. Reznik M.D. has coined the term "Medical Box" to illustrate the boxed-in thinking imposed on physicians. He calls the four corners of the box: fear of litigation, financial and time pressure, guidelines of Health Care authorities, and the current Medical Model, disease oriented thinking.

Dr. Reznik uses vignettes from actual medical records, his own experience, and from the experiences of his colleagues to further illustrate the implications of the obstacles placed on the physician and the medical profession as a whole.

Each vignette reflects the perspective of the physician, the patient and family, sometimes the societal, and finally the spiritual/philosophical view as it relates to treatment, suffering, guilt, and in the final preparation of facing death.

Reznik supports the belief that the patient should assume more responsibility in learning the options available to him, the side effects that may result, and the expected results of taking action. He suggests asking these three questions. What is the doctor trying to find out from the testing? How will this additional information affect medical management and prognosis? What does the testing entail? What are the risks of test or procedure?

"Secrets of Medical Decision Making" freely uses detailed descriptions of medical treatments, tests, and procedures written in a layman's language. Rezik has produced an outstanding work. This is a guide to help patients avoid becoming victims of the health care machine. It is truly an eye opener. Dr. Rezik is well qualified to write this book. He is a board certified family physician. This study is an important addition to studies on patient advocacy. Rezik has done thorough research and has provided comprehensive reference documentation. Physicians, medical practitioners, and patients will all benefit from reading this book. It is both, enlightening, and instructive. This is a book to be read and read again.

In this work, Dr. Reznik alerts the consumer to the reality of today's medicine and its practices. He presents a medical industry that places the individual physician in a `box' that influences his decision-making beyond what is always best for the patient. Dr. Reznik position is that the modern physician is unduly influenced by the fear of litigation, the need to follow untested medical guidelines, the pressure of the pharmacology industry and the demands of the insurance companies. He presents a compelling case for his beliefs. His thesis is presented in short chapters of two or three pages that use interesting case studies to inform the reader about their need to ask questions and take charge of their own medical needs.
His writing style is easy to digest and compelling. This work is an effortless read and easy for the layperson to understand. My one complaint is in the displayed copies of medical records, notes and tests results as the printing is blurred and difficult to see.
Dr. Reznik's concern that many patients allow the medical industry to take over their individual decision-making is unfortunately very accurate - too many patients get caught up in endless consultations and unnecessary tests. My one very strong objection is to Dr. Reznik's dismissal of the need for cancer screening. As a cancer survivor myself, I believe the truth gives the patient the power of control. To tell the public that cancer screening, especially mammography, is not necessary is extremely dangerous and endangers lives unnecessarily.

Dr. Reznic had used unrealistic examples, but that was to show the opposite of what's expected. This strategy is used to make patients expect better than before.

The western medical system is considered to be one of the best in the world. In who's opinion? The doctors? Pharmaceutical companies? What about the patients? Our healthcare has become a "system," a machine driven by costs and profits. Patients suffer needlessly as a result of our economic focus on a service industry. The ethics in healthcare have been replaced with a profit and loss statement. Is it the doctors' fault? The insurance companies? Where did we as a society drop the ball on improving patient outcomes? This book gets into the nitty gritty. While we all have our own opinions of what is wrong with our health care system, Dr. Resnik concisely and simply lays out his thoughts supported by case studies, statistics, and a multitude of interesting facts abbut how the system works...and where it fails us. As a patient, I found this book to be extraordinary and interesting. It brought out what I had felt for years about my own health are. As a professional health care practitioner, it gave me more facts and information to arm my patients with. So, if you are a patient, or in the health care field, you will find this a fabulous and worthy read. He coins the term "medical box' to describe the compartmentalized thinking and treatment protocols. He addresses many medical diagnostic tests from a patient perspective. Then he layers the societal, physician, and family perspective on top of it. The information is like an ice cream sundae...good right to the bottom of it. His advice is invaluable. Resnik writes about how not to aggravate your doctor with threatening requests... it isn't helpful, especially for the patient. He discusses how the drug company reps sponsor CME programs... to who's advantage?! I enjoyed his discussion on health insurance. It truly is a double edged sword in getting what you want. He points out that you can usually get it, but is it necessary and that often, tests are run needlessly because of good insurance. Contrarily, are tests withheld if you have inadequate insurance? You will have to read it for yourself.
I liked that he teaches patients how to be their own advocate, and to educate themselves more thoroughly about their diagnosis, testing and patient care. The patient should be involved to protect his interest. Leaving the medical decisions to the machine is dangerous.
This book will wake you up to our medical system. It speaks the truth which isn't always easy to hear, but in that light it teaches you how too improve your care and that of your family. Don't pass on this read! He has done a great service for improving patient care by addressing this topic.
I received a complimentary review copy.

I liked the book. Majority of topics are very controversial, I did not agree with all of them. Hovewere, it would be great if more people would read the book to be more edacated about current medical system. It is also very thoughts provocing...

Learn the truth about the medical industry and it's wasteful and dangerous business scams. What you will learn may save your life.