What Kind of Life [Hardcover]

Daniel Callahan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 1990

A provocative call to rethink America's values in health care.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Callahan, medical ethicist, co-founder of the Hastings Center, and author of Abortion: Law, Choice and Morality (o.p.), makes a complex and largely logic-based argument here for the rationing of health care. In rather formal philosophical style, he proposes a reconstitution of American health care, suggests a "biographical" life span after which intervention would be limited to caring rather than curing, and outlines the changes necessary in the political climate for such an adjustment. His proposal--of a "pyramid" of health care, in which measures that benefit the largest number of people are widely available, and specialized care, such as transplant surgery, is rationed on an individual cost/benefit basis--will be highly controversial. Essential for collections in health, medicine, and the social sciences, but heavy going for most lay readers. Excellent end notes.
- Mark L. Shelton, Columbus, Ohio
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A sober, bracing and important look at the realities of medicine and its costs." -- Los Angeles Times

"Callahan writes...with elegance and lucidity; he excels at describing present irrationalities and in underscoring the benefits anticipated in his new model health care system." -- New York Times Book Review

"Essential for collections in health, medicine, and the social sciences." -- Library Journal

"A graceful...book that makes a substantive contribution to our thinking about the legitimate claims of the individual on society, and the unexamined values behind the development of medical technology.... he offers a vision that is both wise and compassionate for addressing the most pressing domestic problem of our time." -- Commonweal

"An important contribution. It lays bare the bankrupt assumptions of the current health care system, and it serves as a forceful reminder of the trade-offs both within our health care system and between health and other societal values." -- Health Affairs

"An important piece of work. It is lucid, generally compelling, often eloquent, decidedly visionary, and undoubtedly daring. Future discussions of health care reform cannot afford to ignore it, whether or not the participants find themselves in agreement." -- Bulletin of the Park Ridge Center

"A challenging book, which makes a splendid effort to unite moral and policy analysis and succeeds at many levels.... He deals with issues central to our times and tells us much that we can learn from, even when we disagree with him." -- JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)

"It has the ring of common sense and realism." -- New Yorker

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (January 15, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671670964
• ISBN-13: 978-0671670962
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,773,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Health care and aging, April 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: What Kind of Life?: The Limits of Medical Progress (Paperback)

This book is a must read for those with an interest in geriatric health care allocation. Unfortunately, after about the first 100 pages, the book seems to just say the same thing over and over; namely, agism is ethically justified. I wonder if the author will still buy into this when he is of the old old.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Integrates ethical thought, social justice issues. Great!, July 2, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: What Kind of Life?: The Limits of Medical Progress (Paperback)

I thought Callahan successfully brings together some of the most thought about and talked about issues of medical ethics today with the social reality of life in the US and the medical system we have currently. Must read for medical professionals.