Customer Reviews

When There Is No Doctor: Preventive and Emergency Healthcare in Challenging Times (Process Self-reliance Series)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I very recently picked up this book for it looked really interesting. Unlike most other books that I have reviewed of a certain genre, I should in all fairness first say that I do not own any other book of this variety, so consequently I have no experience with any other books of its type to compare it to. All I can do it offer a clear an objective opinion on the book as it stands alone.

Personally I have found this book to be extremely informative and interesting. It should be understood that this is not a book that speaks all that much about cuts and bruises, but real life emergency situations where lives could very easily be at stake. Its title is very much right on in that it prepares and instructs one as clear and easily as possible as to what to do, and how to handle a series of very traumatic medical emergencies. In other words, it is designed more for when their really isn't a doctor to either be found, or when there will be a long time between the emergency situation, and actually getting hold of a medical professional. It is very helpful in informing one as to what should be in your home or whatever place you will be keeping this book as to what supplies, equipment, and medicines should be kept on hand just in case. And it does clearly and as plainly as possible explain the procedure for dozens of truly emergency situations and trauma. On the other hand, it is not a book that will either describe or recommend that you attempt to pull out your own tonsils to save some time and cash. As the author, Dr, Gerard Doyle himself states on the book jacket:

"I will not teach you to be a lone survivalist who anticipates doing an appendectomy on himself or a loved one on the kitchen table with a steak knife and a few spoons, although I will discuss techniques of austere and improvised medicine for really hard times."

My experience with this book so far has been fortunately not to have any real need of it. But I am attempting to educate myself as to the advice, preparedness, and actual procedure should such an emergency situation arise when there really is no doctor around, and its only you, or some other non professional to be depended on. It is very interesting to read, very informative in a plain easy to understand language, and could very well save your own, or someone else's life someday. I have taken one star off the total rating for unfortunately Dr. Doyle cannot help himself but regurgitate a lot of both very well known and common sense advice about eating right and exercising. And the book does contain a healthy dose of filler here and there as to the background and anatomy of an appendix for example, along with the actual description of an emergency involving one should one arise. But certainly not does his lecturing or anatomical filler come at the expense of great deal of truly helpful and potentially life saving instruction and procedure. Personally I like the book very much and consider it well worth the price, and something that every home should have around. Recommended...

I have read a couple titles from the Process Self-reliance Series, and they were impressive. However, after reading this one cover-to-cover ... it was a disappointment. I wouldn't go as far to say it wasn't helpful ... just not as much as a I expected. After I read this book, I purchased "Medicine for the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to Emergency Medical Procedures and First Aid" by Paul Auerbach ... and that book was REALLY GOOD. It contained a lot more of what I was expecting from this book (i.e. practical instructions for advanced medical aid). What was helpful from this book was comprehensive info on preventive measures for disaster scenarios, and a pretty comprehensive list for medical supplies to have in a well-stocked first aid kit (based on the author's years of experience in the ER).

When there is no doctor is a very good overview of austere and disaster medicine preparation, it is not however a how to manual. Nor is it one you would read after grid crash. It is a book that the intent is to point you in the right directions do learn and read more and to get supplies together. Of unusual content is the fact that the book touches on veterinary medicine post grid crash. I would highly recommend that everyone read this book.

This is a good book, but it may not be the one you're looking for. This title is confusingly similar to that of a different and truly great book: Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook

The latter is primarily a treatment of public health management in the Third World, whereas Dr. Doyle's book is more about self-reliant medical care. There's significant overlap, but one book is not a substitute for the other, and I wish Dr. Doyle had chosen a more clearly unique title.

If you're interested in this book, you may also wish to get Ditch Medicine: Advanced Field Procedures For Emergencies.

This well-written, detailed, approachable book is both informative and thought-provoking. Doyle gives the reader accurate and applicable medical knowledge and describes useful procedures; at the same time, he emphasizes the importance of how to approach medical problems in a general sense. His chapters on preventative medicine, training, and planning are comprehensive and force the reader to see the importance of non-pharmacological and non-surgical means of maintaining health. Later chapters detailing home remedies and cheap/effective medications are extremely practical. The wound care chapter was a joy to read. Lists and references throughout the book give the reader the opportunity to continue their research once they finish this fantastic book.

I took me on a journey I didn't realize I needed to go on. Also, the compiled resources that are referenced inside for SHTF medical care and prevention is worth it alone. Western Medicine is all about consistency, control and liability. It's all about modern devices that rely on electricity and medication that are doled out under a very strict process. This is all great and fantastic and proper when you are living in a Western society and everything is hunky dory. What do you do when you are stranded in the wilderness after a crash landing? What do you do after a Hurricane? What do you do after an earthquake? What happens when you are on a ship or boat in the middle of the ocean? This book doesn't go into those scenarios with step by step medical procedures. It does give some very frank advice and suggestions of where to find that information, all the while running the very fine line of laws, regulations, etc. that should be followed during normal structured society, but goes completely out the window when it all comes crumbling down. We are all very unprepared and modern society has made us rely on others at every turn. What do you do when the food shelves are empty? What do you do when the light switch doesn't work? What do you do when the water doesn't come out of the tap or could be contaminated? What do you do when there is no doctor?

Medicine is a business. Medical school is a business. It shouldn't cost what it costs. We've succeeded in shoehorning the medical professionals down a path that puts our very lives in the hands of a few select individuals following a checklist of rules, regulations, insurance do's and dont's at the penalty of proper treatment. If we are now guaranteed entitled health care, why is the information and knowledge still unobtainable and doled out in the same way? Doctors are necessary and their capacity is what allows us to live longer, healthier and more productive lives, but what happens when there are too few too far away and a simple medical procedure can be performed by another individual until modern healthcare is again available? What if the hospitals are full? What if the road to get there isn't usable?

This is the journey that I made with this book.

I was greatly disappointed with this book. I expected this book to be informative, go into detail about alternative medicine, illnesses and maybe explain how certain medical procedures can be done without access to a hospital.

What I found in this book was mostly a pep talk about why its important to know how to treat illness without access to a doctor, a very brief snippet of alternative medicine such as herbs that left me no more ready to put them to use that before reading the book, and constant referrals to other books or places in which I could obtain the information that I thought this book should have covered.

A large part of this book could be eliminated by crossing out the constant pep talks. I bought the book because I'm already on board with learning more for hard times so the author just wastes space that should be used to cover important information and also wastes the readers time.

I was offended to see the author rely so heavily on referencing you to other books where you can learn something he barely scratches the surface on. I already own or have seen many of those books and websites so this book offered me nothing new and simply teases the reader who buys the book expecting it to cover those topics.

The only reason I didn't give this book one star is because the basic information and pep talks may be good for beginners to this mindset.

Don't confuse this book with "Where there is no Doctor". There is no comparison.

Ok, so this book is from the "When There Is No Doctor" series; therefore, I was expecting some survival type information for when the world goes to hell in a handbasket and what we should do in that event. It has some useful information, but not at all on the level of the WTIND series... Save your money and purchase something else... #unimpressive

I actually came across this book on my library shelf. The subject matter has interested me for some time. Anyway it is not a kind of general 'survival' book. It is most definitely from a medical professionals point of view. But it is in layman terms, which is a plus. It is very informative. I learned a lot. It has lots of lists to use and even other sources you can use. I particularly liked the information about caring for and treating the disabled and/or infirmed (my daughter is disabled and wheelchair bound). Something a lot of books on this subject don't have. I really appreciated that.
If you want some good advice on medical preparedness and want to have it handy at all times then buy it. Otherwise, you can do like I did and just get it from the library and copy or jot down the information needed. It is a quick and easy read.

I liked this book to learn about small medical emergencies I can handle. With medical expenses going up nowdays this will pay it self off in the long run.