Overview

Medicine is more than just a science. It is also an art. As medical students complete their education, however, they may find that their training has been focused solely on the mechanics of diagnosis and treatment. While this scientific knowledge is fundamental to proper healthcare, it can overlook the importance of interacting with patients. In an attempt to refocus on how vital it is for doctors to consider their patients in full, Dr. Clifton K. Meador has written THE LITTLE BOOK OF DOCTORS' RULES. In this book, Dr. Meador draws on his nearly sixty-year medical career for nuggets of advice with both compassion and humour. Although there may not be a defined medical disease behind every physical symptom, Dr. Meador reminds us that the reason behind a symptom may be found if a doctor observes and listens carefully to a patient. He believes an effective physician treats a patient, not just a patient's disease. THE LITTLE BOOK OF DOCTORS' RULES offers insightful rules that address a host of topics, which include developing a rapport with patients, treating dementia, and prescribing drugs. Designed for any healthcare professional, these short rules are easily understood and (mostly) non-technical. Here is a small sampling of Dr. Meador's advice, from the sage and sombre to the clever and sometimes controversial. * While listening to a patient, do not do anything else. Just listen. * Stop drug use in treatment whenever possible. If impossible, cease a patient's use of as many drugs as possible whenever possible. * There are difficult physicians just as there are difficult patients. We are all only human after all. * Just because you know a lot of physiology, biochemistry, and anatomy does not mean you know anything about people. * All patients will lie about something. Some will lie about everything. * If all you listen to are symptoms, then all you will hear from your patients are symptoms. In addition to his own rules, Dr. Meador has included advice offered by some of the past giants of medicine.

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9780757004933

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Reviews

Relate[s] to the more humane and hence efficient practice of medicine . . . while doctors can learn much from this book, all people in the health care chain--including patients--will find value in this jewel of medicine that does not contain a single technical term. --Charles Ashbacher Technologies Charles Ashbacher

Author Information

Clifton K. Meador is professor of medicine emeritus at both Vanderbilt School of Medicine and Meharry Medical College.

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