Critical Condition: How Health Care In America Became Big Business-And Bad Medicine:

Title: Critical Condition: How Health Care In America Became Big Business-And Bad Medicine:

Authors: Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele

ISBN: 038550453

The following review was contributed by:NORM GOLDMAN: Editor of Bookpleasures:

REVIEW

Investigative reporters and the only journalists in history to be awarded two Pulitzer Prizes and two National Magazine Awards, Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele have presented a riveting exposé of the critical state of the health system in the United States with their book Critical Condition: How Health Care In America Became Big Business-And Bad Medicine.

Beginning with the assertion that American health care has been transposed from one of compassion to a system motivated by profit- the authors present a distressing analysis as to what went wrong. Where forty-four million citizens do not have health insurance, and tens of millions more are underinsured. And yet there seems to be this enduring myth propagated by many that the USA has a "world- class health system."

As mentioned by the authors, the USA spends more on health care than any other nation, when you compare it to Germany, France, Japan, Italy, and Canada. However, in these countries citizens do not think twice about seeking care if they are ill. They do not worry who will foot the bills.

In the USA, it has become a lottery. If you are fortunate to be employed by a large company providing generous health benefits, you win. On the other hand, if you are self-employed or work for a small enterprise providing little or no coverage, you lose. You may even go bankrupt and lose your home in order to pay your medical bills.

Relying on interviews, studies from various organizations as the World Health Organization, the US department of Health and Human Services, legal suits, brokerage reports, congressional hearings, newspaper articles, magazine stories, SEC filings, professional journals, and a resevoir of many other sources (all of which are mentioned in the Notes section at the back of the book), the authors deliver legitimate arguments illustrating how an assortment of factors have crawled into the system with calamitous effects.

Broken down into six chapters, Barlett and Steele judiciously examine some of these elements as: rampant overcharging of patients who do not have insurance, dissuading people from purchasing drugs from Canada with false information concerning the Canadian pharmaceutical industry, caving into the demands of special interest groups, the non-existence of independent monitoring of diagnostic test results and hospital mistakes, permitting politicians and business people to assume key roles to the detriment of the welfare of the citizens, a culture of cronyism giving rise to blatant fraud in many instances, doctors having to deal with conditions apt to be found in undeveloped countries, peopled shuffled around by individuals who do not have the foggiest notion as to how to deal with them.

In addition, we are informed of how private enterprises connected with Wall Street financiers and Madison Avenue advertising firms have been permitted to join in as if health care was analogous to the selling of cars or MacDonald's franchises. As the authors rightfully ask: "Is this what health care in America has become?"

Although the authors portray a certain amount of cynicism, there is a glimmer of hope, as evidenced by the concluding chapter, wherein suggestions are offered as to how to revamp the ailing system.

However, the question lingers on. Will Americans reconsider their values, priorities, budgets and options and elect people, who will first and foremost take care of its citizens when it comes to health care? Something most civilized nations do.

Norm Goldman is Editor of the book reviewing site, http://www.bookpleasures.com and the travel site, http://www.sketchandtravel.com.

Norm is also a regular contributor to many book reviewing sites. You can read Norm's book reviews on his book reviewing site bookpleasures.com.

Norm and his artist wife Lily are a unique husband and wife team who meld art with words focusuing on unique romantic and wedding destinations. To learn more about them click on their site at http://www.sketchandtravel.com

---

Book Excerpt: Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam

When I reached the top of the driveway after getting... Read More

Sorat and the Modern Day Evil

"Sorat's evil will be spread by his infernal army of... Read More

James Martells Methods and Yahoo

In James Martell's Affiliate Handbook, he mentions that he focuses... Read More

Entrepreneurs Reach Record Income Levels Using New EBook on Adsense and Adword Techniques

The "Rich Jerk" has created quite a stir on the... Read More

Call Me Mommy - Book Review

Retired police captain, Marshall Frank, has written another excellent read... Read More

Unspoken Dreams - Book Review

"Carol Bennett writes a stunning mystery-thriller. Her chilling entrance is... Read More

Humor Just Got A Whole Lot Funnier With Juggin Joe

Author Joseph Yakel presents his own blend of humor and... Read More

On the Brink of Risk - A Book You Wont Put Down

On the Brink of Risk is a fiction novel inspired... Read More

Looking for Harvey Weinstein Book Review

Brassy, ballsy and full of energy.A totem of two women's... Read More

FISH! Tales - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

FISH! Tales: Real-Life Stories to Help You Transform Your Workplace... Read More

Atlanta Pastor Releases Book Of Life

Local Atlanta Pastor known for his charity work such as... Read More

Headlong Into Quicksand: The Tale of Today in America

America´s 220 years of Democracy (of its 400 years) is... Read More

The Global Wolf Pack

Description:Intense action and gripping suspense characterize the seemingly real story... Read More

Never Fry Bacon in the Nude - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

Never Fry Bacon in the Nude (And Other Lessons from... Read More

Going Deeper - Book Review

Going Deeper by Jean-Claude Koven is certainly a nicely presented,... Read More

Primal Leadership - A Book Summary

Primal leadership takes center stage in this book. This concept... Read More

E-books in Your Life

E-Books are making a big impact in the way we... Read More

Giving Feedback or Writing Reviews of Bad Stuff

Some book reviewers say that when they don't like a... Read More

Book Summary: EVEolution

For any business to survive today, it needs to understand... Read More

Life Lines

Joyce Meyers has been inspiring Christians for decades with the... Read More

A Ghost in Cornwall

This land is my memories. For two thousand years this... Read More

Mathew and the Highland Rescue - Book Review

"A stimulating adventure! Sabine Muir has written a wonderful children's... Read More

Profitable Growth Is Everyones Business - A Book Summary

The days of ruthless downsizing and drastic cost cutting are... Read More

Jesus and the Gnostic Cathars

These are some of the highlights of a connected story... Read More

Book Summary: Effective Networking For Personal Success

We are all "self-employed" now.Today there is absolutely no job... Read More

Book Summary: The 17 Indisputable Laws Of Teamwork

To achieve great things, you need a team. Building a... Read More

Book Summary: Secrets of Word Of Mouth Marketing

Spread the word about your hot new product or company!Word-of-mouth... Read More

Critical Condition: How Health Care In America Became Big Business-And Bad Medicine:

Title: Critical Condition: How Health Care In America Became Big... Read More

The Leadership Challenge - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

The Leadership Challenge: The Most Trusted Source on Becoming a... Read More

Political Frugality - Review

It is hard to specify exactly what genre Larry Roth's... Read More

Constantine

Loosely based on the graphic novel Hellraiser, Constantine follows the... Read More

Book review on Finite Capacity Scheduling, Part II

Now add ten more car wash trucks, with the corresponding... Read More

Product Review: Quick and Easy Ways to Instantly Mine Pure Gold from WordTracker

The other day I was surfing the net looking for... Read More