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 expos 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

Drug Addiction
...addiction usually stems from misinformation. Most individuals think that they can easily kick off the habit of taking illegal drugs, and most patients who get addicted to prescription drugs use them for reasons other than those specified by their doctors. ...
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,

How Will You Be Remembered
...Baptist Preacher and Bible Teacher. He helps those grieving the loss of a pet to understand the Biblical evidence that proves they live on. His most popular book, "Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates" delivers hope and comfort to the ...
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

Michael Moore: It is Your Prescription for America that is "Sicko"
...country where people are eating themselves to death while a large portion of the world is malnourished. Regarding his proposals, what he has prescribed for our country's healthcare system is simply Un-American. Sources: Michael Moore Statements from Recent Interviews Promoting ...
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

A Guide To Canadian Drugs
...and protects them from any effects of price competition among brand-name competitors. [http://www.e-CanadianDrugs.com]Canadian Drugs provides detailed information on Canadian Drugs, Cheap Canadian Drugs, Canadian Prescription Drugs, Canadian Drugs Online and more. Canadian Drugs is affiliated with [http://www.i-canadianpharmacy.com]Canadian Mail Order Pharmacy. ...
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

Online Pharmacies - A Welcome Alternative To Drug Purchase
...usage, the popularity of online [http://www.buylowdrugs.com/]Canada drug pharmacies will exceed unimaginable limits in times to come. Alfred Anderson has rich experience in the field of online brand marketing. His interests includes Internet marketing and research on emerging online business trends. ...
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