/Nexus - 0210 - New Times Magazine/pages/0057/image.png)
Page Content (OCR)
REVIEWS ~ BOOKS MALE PRACTICE: HOW DOC TORS MANIPULAllE WOMEN By Robert S. Mendelsohn, M. D. Publ: Contemporary Books, Inc., Chicago, USA. Available: Nexus Magazine, (see advert on page a5) The author of this and tbe following book, Robert S. Mendelsohn, M.D.has been practising medicine for over 30 years. He has been the National Director of Project Head Start's Medical Consultation Service, Chairman for the Licensing Committee for the State of Illinois, and the recipient of numerous awards for excellence in medicine and medical instruction. He is also the author of "Confessions of a Medical Heretic". His books have established him as a leading critic of modem medi cine. This book is a very fascinating look at many of the ways women are manipu lated by doctors. It touches many areas such as discrimination in medical ~._-------schools, to fem.ale peers in the hospital l, to how doctors treat their female patients. lie believes so thoroughly institutionalised is medicines conde scending attitude towards women that most doctors are unaware of their nega tive attitude toward their female patients. They are more likely to pre scribe drugs for women, especially for things like hypertension, and more 'like tly to recommend them for surgery. He believes two of the most indiscriminately recommended surgery are the hys terectomy and the radical mastectomy. The word Hysterectomy actually derives from the Greek word for hyste ria (hysteeikos) which means suffering in the uterus. he points out, for e~am-, pie, .that last century female castration . was used as a way of ,securing obedi ence from women. But most importantly the book is a very practical one, so in pointing out all the ways women can be manipulated he gives careful guidance on how to approach things. He covers all areas mentioned above, and areas such as pregnancy and child birth, and he also does a chapter on drugs that all women should think twice about taking. So this is an excellent book for women and men Ito read, to become more aware of our choices , so we can take responsibility for our own health. HOW TO RAISE A HEAUHY CHILD IN SPITE OF YOUR DOCTOR By Robert S. Mendelsohn, M.D. IPubl: Contemporary Books, Inc., Chicago, USA. Available: Nexus Magazine, (see advert on page 15) This is an excellent practical book -----~- OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 1992 NEXUS-57