Books, Movies and Media of Interest to Patients and their Advocates
While plenty of good health and patient navigation information can be found on the Internet, there are other media resources which can be helpful, too. Books, movies, TV, radio shows and more are reviewed here.
We knew and loved Fran Drescher as The Nanny on TV in the 1990s. Shortly after the show ended, she suffered her first misdiagnosis of cancer. Read about Fran's journey -- from getting a corrected diagnosis to her work today as advocate, author, movement leader and diplomat.
Katherine Heigl, star of Grey's Anatomy, stars in the movie Side Effects. It is an eye-opening exposé of the life of a pharmaceutical drug representative, as she learns that the lure of money and perks in her job as a drug rep requires her make compromises that go against her values.
Book review of Finding Dr. Right by Mitch Rothschild.
Sometimes lessons about navigating the dysfunction of healthcare are best learned by metaphor. The Napkin, the Melon and the Monkey is a business book that translates well to healthcare by teaching us how to face difficulties ourselves while learning to work well with others.
Review of Dangerous Doses, the story of counterfeit drugs and the contamination of America's drug supply, by Katherine Eban
The Empowered Patient by Julia A. Hallisy, DDS sets the stage by showing how the American healthcare system can go wrong, then empowers patients by providing them with practical tips for navigating the system successfully. Read more in this review of The Empowered Patient.
Review of Fatal Care, Survive in the U.S. Health System by Dr. Sanjaya Kumar
How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman, MD
Review of How to Survive Your Doctor's Care, by Pamela F. Gallin, MD, FACS.
Review of Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer by Shannon Brownlee
Review of Stay Healthy, Live Longer, Spend Wisely, Making Intelligent Choices in America's Healthcare System by Davis Liu, MD
Book Review of Unbreak Your Health, The Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Therapies by Alan E. Smith -- learn about more than 100 complementary and alternative therapies.
Book review of What's Wrong With Me? (The Frustrated Patient's Guide to Getting an Accurate Diagnosis), by Lynn M. Dannheisser and Jerry M. Rosenbaum, MD.
