The Life You Save: Nine Steps to Finding the Best Medical Care-and Avoiding the Worst Book

1 This Book Could Save Your Life 1

2 Right Now: Get Your Records and Read Them 13

3 Talking to Your Doctor: Put It in Writing 29

4 When the Diagnosis Is in Doubt 45

5 Your Best Ally: A Top Primary-Care Doctor 55

6 Steering Clear of Dangerous Doctors 65

7 Drugs: A Dose of Reality About the Prescription Drug Industry and How You Can Safely Use Medicines 71

8 "Should I Be Tested?" Why Understanding the Numbers Is Crucial 85

9 The Second Opinion: Always Your First Choice 97

10 When You Need Surgery: Avoiding Dr. Not-So-Good and Finding Dr. Right 119

11 Making a List and Checking It Twice: The Key to Safe Surgery 143

12 Your Personal Advocate, in the Hospital and Out 155

13 The Scandal of Infections in Hospitals and Other Health-Care Facilities, and What You Can Do 169

14 Looking for the Best Hospital: A Frustrating Journey with Some Hope 187

15 Living with Chronic Disease: Advice from Survivors 203

16 Auditing Your Care so You Live Longer 219

17 Celebrating the Heroes and Champions of Patient Safety and Quality Care 231

Epilogue: Dealing With Medical Injury 243

Acknowledgments 255

Resources and Further Reading 257

Appendix A Twenty-eight Things That Should Never Happen in a Health-Care Facility 261

Appendix B High-Risk Situations in Biopsy Diagnosis of Cancer 265

Appendix C Fifteen Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk of a Hospital Infection 267

Notes 271

Index 283