IAHPC BOOK REVIEWS
by Dr. Roger Woodruff
Palliative Care Book of the Month:
THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE
Ira Byock
Avery, 2012
320 pp
ISBN 978-1-58333-459-1
RRP $US26.00, £16.28
‘Americans are scared to death of dying.’ That is the starting point for Ira Byock, one of the leading voices for palliative care in the USA, to take us through the problems in the health care system and in society that result in so many people dying badly or in suffering. These problems will increase as the older population begins to outnumber the young. Medical suffering aside, I was surprised by the statement that, even before the recent recession, ‘well over a million American families annually filed for bankruptcy due to health care costs.’ Byock, with the use of clinical vignettes and a lot of personal experience, explains how things might be done better, whilst admitting that it would be tantamount to a revolution in health care. His appeal is for better treatment of people with advanced disease and the dying, but he has no problem with the co-existence of medical excellence and tender human caring. Well-told, this book advocates strongly for the need for change in the way we look after people at the end-of-live. And although written about America, many of the matters discussed apply to other ‘developed’ countries. It was a pleasure to read Byock describing the matters that concern many of us.
Other Reviews:
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
A Case-Based Manual 3e
Doreen Oneschuk, Neil Hagen and Neil MacDonald (Eds)
Oxford University Press, 2012
411 pp
ISBN 978-0-19-969414-3
RRP $US59.99, £32.99.
This is the third edition of Neil MacDonald’s case-based manual of palliative care. Revised to reflect the clinical developments in palliative care, it brings a wealth of knowledge and perspective to the teaching and practice of what we do. There are new chapters on palliative care for neurological disorders, palliative sedation, complementary and alternative therapies, palliative care in the intensive care unit, and the last days, all of which are worthy additions; deletion of the chapter on grief and bereavement was perhaps a retrograde step. Each topic is addressed in an interactive and challenging manner. This would be an excellent introductory text for medical students and nurses and for anyone coming to palliative care from other disciplines.
MY HOPE IS BUILT …
Christian Perspectives on Decisions at the End of Life
F. Walton Avery
University Press Universe, 2011
85 pp
ISBN 978-1-4620-6413-7
RRP $US12.95, £8.95
Is it all clear-cut, black and white? This is a critical and reasoned review of Christian responses to vital questions that come at the end of life, written by a retired physician with a master’s degree in theology. Not light reading, but there is a lot to chew on here.
Roger Woodruff, MD (Australia)
May 2012
Dr. Woodruff is a Lifetime Member of the IAHPC Board and past Chair. His bio may be found at http://www.hospicecare.com/Bio/r_woodruff.htm
View over 100+ IAHPC hospice & palliative care book reviews
www.hospicecare.com/bookshop/hospice-palliative-care-book-reviews
Note for authors and publishers: If you wish to have your book reviewed, please send to:
Dr Roger Woodruff
IAHPC Bookshop Editor
210 Burgundy St, Suite 9
Heidelberg, Victoria 3084
AUSTRALIA
Note: Review copies become property of IAHPC and are not returned to the author. Only palliative care related books which are previously approved will be reviewed. Due to the large number of requests, we can't provide exact dates of when books will be reviewed.
Email this page to a friend!
Top of Page |
