Port in the Storm: How to Make a Medical Decision & Live to Tell About it (Paperback)

by Cole A. Giller (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Dr. Giller has tamed the toughest problem facing anyone with important medical problems: deciding what to do. His plan is -- Nancy Brinker, Founder of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Dallas

Product Description
Compared to the diagnoses of forty years ago, the choices and information offered by today's doctors leave you to make the final decision that can, and often does, change your life. In Port in the Storm, neurosurgeon Cole Giller, M.D., guides you through the difficult and confusing maze of medical choices and tradeoffs, helping you weigh your options with confidence and make a decision you can live with.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: LifeLine Press; 1 edition (December 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895261324
• ISBN-13: 978-0895261328
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #837,878 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why you NEED this book , August 27, 2004

By	K. Corn "reviewer" (Indianapolis,, IN United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

Here's why I bought this book and why you might need it yourself:
1. Medical decisions are NOT what they used to be and patients need to be informed in order to make the right decision.
2. The book outlines the six major steps necessary to make the right decision - from identifying your options to interpreting numbers, etc
3. This book includes a guide to the right reference books and tips on reading and interpreting relevant medical articles, newsletters, television and even advertisements.
4. It includes a guide to the internet as well as suggested Web sites. There are also helpful tips for navigating PubMed and other medical websites.
5. Included are valuable strategies for finding the right medical information and interpreting the often confusing numbers and percentages included in medical tests and other medical procedures.
6. Finally, this book looks at ALL the various aspects of medical treatment, from medical insurance to managing doctors.
I've never seen another book like it and think it'd be invaluable for any patient - or family of one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars must have for doctors and patients, January 14, 2004

By A Customer

When I picked up this book, I read it cover to cover in one sitting--I couldn't put it down. As a family physician, I help my patients make tough medical decisions every day, and I know firsthand how agonizing the process can be. In this book, Dr. Cole Giller leads patients through six steps of the medical decision making process to help them make choices that are best for them, in keeping with their beliefs, values, and priorities. The book is compelling and easy to read, written by a doctor that is not only competent, but extremely compassionate. It is a must-read for anyone who is faced with making a medical decision, whether it is a physician, a patient, or someone who must decide for a loved one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wisdom beyond Its Scope, December 28, 2006

By	Craig L. Howe "The Pointed Pundit" (Darien, CT United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Important decisions are rarely straight forward. This is particularly true of medical decisions. Choices are intricate, outcomes uncertain and ultimately the decision is yours.

Cole Giller, a board-certified neurosurgeon and associate professor, draws on his experience of guiding his patients through this difficult maze to offer guidance to anyone facing an important medical decision. In doing so, he has penned a book of wisdom that transcends its stated purpose.

Giller's six steps for making medical decisions are applicable to anyone faced with a bewildering array of choices. Simply put, they are:

1. Identify your options.
2. Identify the trade-offs.
3. Find the supporting data.
4. Be skeptical of the data.
5. Pay attention to your beliefs.
6. Contemplate the decision's meaning.

This book is a treasure. Giller weaves his experience into a well-written, easily-understood and widely-applicable approach to dealing with complicated decisions. While the book is a compassionate guide for individuals facing a medical challenge, it also offers sound guidance for decision-makers in any field.

Knowledge may be power, as the old saw says. But all too often in this age of information explosion, it is not enough to overcome the decision crisis. Giller's model provides a practical for living with the decision's results.