Rating: 
Summary: A Doctor Confesses All
Review: +++++
The idea behind this book can be ascertained from its title. The word "confession" means to admit. What Dr. Robert Mendelsohn (1926 to 1988) does is to admit truths about what he calls the "Church of Modern Medicine." A "heretic" is a person who professes to heresy. A heresy is any opinion opposed to established doctrines.
Thus, Mendelsohn in his book tells us truths and his opinions (based on his excellent qualifications) regarding orthodox medicine. His opinions are angry ones. (I'd be angry too if I spent my entire life in orthodox medicine only to discover that it is not what it claims to be.) Like anyone who is angry, the author occasionally goes off on tangents but overall he sticks to the main premise of the book.
What is the premise of this book? Mendelsohn tells us this immediately in the book's opening section called the "Non Credo." He states, "I do not believe in modern medicine. I am a medical heretic. My aim of this book is to persuade you to become a heretic, too." (Notice, that contrary to popular belief, the premise of this book is not to tell you to stop seeing your doctor.)
Each chapter (there are nine) of this book has many truths. These truths are not out-of-date and will probably remain relevant into the far future. Here are just three examples:
1) "Every drug stresses and hurts your body in some way."
2) "A healthy society is characterized by strong, positive family relationships and subsequent minimal need of doctors."
3) "Doctors are not trained to attack the core of any problem, merely to suppress symptoms."
Sometimes, the author juxtaposes two truths to make a point. My favorite: "All their [that is, doctors'] intentions may be good, but we all know what the road to Hell is paved with."
What I really noticed about this book is the author's strong opinions. Here, again, are three examples:
1) "Doctors in general should be treated with the same degree of trust as used-car salesmen."
2) "When I meet a doctor, I generally figure I'm meeting a person who is narrow-minded, prejudiced, and fairly incapable of reasoning and deliberation."
3) "Get used to the idea right away that no single system can or should claim to have an exclusive fix on the dynamics of health."
There is even discussion about non-drug medicine. Mendelsohn states, "In the Church of Modern Medicine, the doctor who treats without drugs is regarded as a heretic because he or she appears to have rejected the sacrament of medication." Today, orthodox medicine calls such people "quacks." One of the people they call a quack, the author mentions, is Dr. Linus Pauling because he wanted to treat without drugs. The late Linus Pauling was a two-time Nobel Prize winner. Question: What gives orthodox medicine the right to call such a brilliant person a quack? His credentials prove otherwise.
The book's last section is called, "Epilog: In search of the New Doctor." It is an interesting section where Mendelsohn gives his vision of the doctor of the future. This vision has yet to be achieved and my guess is, it will never be achieved.
The only problem I had with this book is the lack of footnotes with respect to specific numbers and statistics. When statistics are given, you have to give credit to their source. However, Mendelsohn does supply many references.
Another good book on this subject that is less opinionated is "The Medical Mafia" (1995) by Dr. Guylaine Lanctot. I think this title is a good indicator of its contents.
In conclusion, Dr. Robert Mendelsohn's book does a good job in exposing the truths behind orthodox medicine. These truths are what you and your family should know for their own protection. I strongly recommend this book if you want to become aware of these truths.
**** 1/2
+++++
Rating:
Summary: A Doctor Confesses All
Review: =====>The idea behind this book can be ascertained from its title. The word "confession" means to admit. What the late Dr. Robert Mendelsohn does is to admit truths about what he calls the "Church of Modern Medicine." A "heretic" is a person who professes to heresy. A heresy is any opinion opposed to established doctrines. Thus, Mendelsohn in his book tells us truths and his opinions (based on his excellent qualifications) regarding orthodox medicine. His opinions are angry ones. (I'd be angry too if I spent my entire life in orthodox medicine only to discover that it is not what it claims to be.) Like anyone who is angry, the author occasionally goes off on tangents but overall he sticks to the main premise of the book. What is the premise of this book? Mendelsohn tells us this immediately in the book's opening section called the "Non Credo." He states, "I do not believe in modern medicine. I am a medical heretic. My aim of this book is to persuade you to become a heretic, too." (Notice, that contrary to popular belief, the premise of this book is not to tell you to stop seeing your doctor.) Each chapter (there are nine) of this book has many truths. These truths are not out-of-date and will probably remain relevant into the far future. Here are just three examples: 1) "Every drug stresses and hurts your body in some way."
2) "A healthy society is characterized by strong, positive family relationships and subsequent minimal need of doctors."
3) "Doctors are not trained to attack the core of any problem, merely to suppress symptoms." Sometimes, the author juxtaposes two truths to make a point. My favorite: "All their [that is, doctors'] intentions may be good, but we all know what the road to Hell is paved with." What I really noticed about this book is the author's strong opinions. Here, again, are three examples: 1) "Doctors in general should be treated with the same degree of trust as used-car salesmen."
2) "When I meet a doctor, I generally figure I'm meeting a person who is narrow-minded, prejudiced, and fairly incapable of reasoning and deliberation."
3) "Get used to the idea right away that no single system can or should claim to have an exclusive fix on the dynamics of health." There is even discussion about non-drug medicine. Mendelsohn states, "In the Church of Modern Medicine, the doctor who treats without drugs is regarded as a heretic because he or she appears to have rejected the sacrament of medication." Today, orthodox medicine calls such people "quacks." One of the people they call a quack, the author mentions, is Dr. Linus Pauling because he wanted to treat without drugs. The late Linus Pauling was a two-time Nobel Prize winner. Question: What gives orthodox medicine the right to call such a brilliant person a quack? His credentials prove otherwise. The book's last section is called, "Epilog: In search of the New Doctor." It is an interesting section where Mendelsohn gives his vision of the doctor of the future. This vision has yet to be achieved and my guess is, it will never be achieved. The only problem I had with this book is the lack of footnotes with respect to specific numbers and statistics. When statistics are given, you have to give credit to their source. However, Mendelsohn does supply many references. Another good book on this subject that is less opinionated is "The Medical Mafia" (1995) by Dr. Guylaine Lanctot. I think this title is a good indicator of its contents. In conclusion, Dr. Robert Mendelsohn's book does a good job in exposing the truths behind orthodox medicine. These truths are what you and your family should know for their own protection. I strongly recommend this book if you want to become aware of these truths. <=====>
Rating: 
Summary: Data is over 30 years old.
Review: A great book and still very relevant, but somewhat outdated. The idea behind the book is the medical profession is riddled with problems and that these problems are, for the most part, swept under the rug. However, this book was published in 1979 and most of the data sighted is from 1970 and before. The author also shows quite a bit of bias against the medical industry and shows this bias more than a realistic view of medical practices. I would like to see the book updated before I would recommend it to anyone. As I said, it's a good premise, but a bit out of date.
Rating: 
Summary: Deadly Facts
Review: Dr. Mendelsohn pulls no punches in this fabulous critique of the largely harmful and deadly practices of Western style medicine. Even though the book is now 20 years old, its message rings just as loud and true today. He goes right for the jugular and deservedly so. I've avoided "modern" medicine and doctors as much as possible for several years now and I'm healthier than I've ever been. It's been so long now that I can't remember the last time I took any prescription drugs. I rely instead on my "physician within", and it's amazing the intelligence and effectiveness of this innate ability. My most dramatic example of self-healing has to be the huge improvement in my vision (from 20/600 to the range of 20/30 to 20/40 and still improving!) using natural methods described in the fabulous book, Relearning to See. The author of this holistic healing book quoted excerpts from Dr. Mendelsohn which struck such a chord that I just had to buy Confessions of a Medical Heretic to read more. It hasn't disappointed. A news item today warned of the fatal dangers of medical errors. According to a study conducted by the Institute of Medicine, part of the Academy of Sciences, each year in U.S. hospitals anywhere from 44,000 to 100,000 deaths occur that are attributed to medical mistakes. Even using the lower estimate, this means that more people die each year from medical errors than from highway accidents, breast cancer or AIDS. The Institute should have saved the bother and expense of doing the study and referred to Dr. Mendelsohn's book instead. He wrote about these same dangers and gave examples of mortality rates dropping significantly when doctors went on strike. Your well-being rests with you and should not be relinquished to the so-called "experts" and "specialists". This book is an excellent guide on the road to taking back control of your health.
Rating:
Summary: unfortunately, not outdated information
Review: I have read this book and while of course there has been some progress since then, I don't see any major changes. Doctors today still get angry if you ask any questions, doctors today still refuse to accept that only patient has a right to make decisions concerning his/her own body. However, I disagree with his comments and attitudes concerning family. The fact that someone is your blood relation is no guarantee whatsoever that that someone would act in your best interest and protect you from unnecessary/unwanted medical interventions. Especialy if your views are a bit more radical than those of the rest of your family. In those matters, I'd rather beleive my lawyer to ensure that my "living will" will be observed, or else they'll be sued. It is still true that doctors are more ften sued for not doing something and not for doing unenecessary things, however from my point of view causing unnecessary suffering for the purpose of minimizing risk for litigation is outrageous. All in all, this book is interesting and easy to read, though I strongly disagree with his views on family especially size of the family. He seems to assume that everybody wants to have dozens of kids, and in his recommendations for home birth once you get married (with which I agree IF you want to have kids, since this is the best way to avoid unnecessary and harmful interventions, including episiotomy which seems to be only surgical procedure for which lack of consent is relative contraindication) he seems to disregard the fact that there are couples who are quite happy to be childfree. Other than his conservative views on family, the book is quite good.
Rating:
Summary: A serious and eye-opening assessment of orthodox medicine
Review: I read this book a long time ago, but have never forgotten it. For anyone who has doubts about the benevolence of the AMA, pharmaceutical companies and the allied health industries or has suffered from drug interactions, side effects, long-term effects, misadiagnoses, botched treatments, apathy or arrogance on the part of medical providers, this book is MUST reading. This is one of the first mainstream books to address these issues and to suggest alternative treatments.
Rating:
Summary: Should have sticked to medical (mal)practices
Review: I think that the book could have been much better if the author had sticked to hard facts instead of delving into his too strongly opiniated beliefs regarding the size of the family, sisters and brothers or birth control. As a model book on doctors and medications, one should read Prescription for Disaster by Thomas J. Moore who reports instead of prescribing religious beliefs. My interest in Mendelsohn's book faded as I progressed in my reading so much so as I discovered his hidden agenda. On page 167 toward the end, he wrote: "If you're not married, think seriously about finding somebody and getting married. If you're married, the most revolutionary act you can perform tonight is to conceive a child." Obviously, he is a pro life addict. No problem about that, but I was not expecting to find them out so conspicuously and relentlessly in the book. Otherwise, Dr Mendelshon has well deserved gibes at doctors and their Modern Medecine. He should have stayed on this side of the fence instead of telling us what to do with our spouse in our bedroom.
Rating:
Summary: Changed my mind a lot
Review: I used to be totally trusting of doctors, the way my parents were, but Dr. Mendelsohn made me aware that prescriptions in the long term might not be the way to go. Indeed, the typical old person (and that includes my parents) has a mini-pharmacy in his kitchen, bedroom, or medicine cabinet. Many of the medications are used as "watchdogs" of other ones. Becoming slave to all these pills and taking them for the rest of my life is not attractive to me. Dr. Mendelsohn assures the reader that there really is a better way to go, but he doesn't go too long on where to look for alternatives. That is something that is left to the reader. In his day, there wasn't much of an Internet. Now, however, there is a gold mine of information about alternate treatments. His book was valuable, though, as a wake-up call. Something that was well-known to cryonicists at the time of the writing of Dr. Mendelsohn's book is that when a person's heart stops beating, causing ischemia in the brain, his brain immediately starts swelling; that swelling clamps the blood vessels feeding the brain. When the heart gets restarted blood circulation cannot take place in the affected areas of the brain, and it is necessary to use calcium blockers and other substances to bring down the swelling and get perfusion. A medical article from 1981 I have from Japan, photocopied for me by a cryonicist, details how a brain surgery was performed that took one and a half hours during which no blood was flowing through the patient's brain; yet the patient came out of the surgery without any neural deficiencies. Neurons apparently do not die any more quickly that any other kinds of cells from blood starvation; the real issue is that they don't ever get blood again when the heart is restarted. I wish Dr. Mendelsohn would have addressed that extremely important matter, but he might not have known about it. I think that doing something about re-establishing blood circulation in the brain would save many a patient in the emergency room. I can only hope that if I have heart stoppage some emergency room doctor will at least try to do it. That is the only significant defect I could find in the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Unbalanced sensationalism.
Review: I've read a lot of books on health in my life and this is of the best. If you want to know how to avoid some of the dirty tricks doctors pull, you've got to study this one. Most diseases are self-limiting, but your doctor won't tell you that. He'll drug and cut you in a heart beat. Another good series of books are by Joel Wallach, Herbert Shelton and Cass Igram. The state of medicine today is as bad or worse than it was 20 years ago. Do youself a favor and get this book.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best ever !
Review: I've read a lot of books on health in my life and this is of the best. If you want to know how to avoid some of the dirty tricks doctors pull, you've got to study this one. Most diseases are self-limiting, but your doctor won't tell you that. He'll drug and cut you in a heart beat. Another good series of books are by Joel Wallach, Herbert Shelton and Cass Igram. The state of medicine today is as bad or worse than it was 20 years ago. Do youself a favor and get this book.
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