Algora Publishing

Bottom line medicine; a layman's guide to evidence-based medicine.

Stanzak, a molecular biologist turned critical care nurse, asks if the term "medical science" is an oxymoron. After years of seeing patients die or have poor medical outcomes despite aggressive and advanced medical care, Stanzak began to question whether that medical care was all that advanced. Here he explains to those who are undergoing that medical care, or whose common sense informs them they will eventually undergo it, that they need not be included in the estimated 250,000 unnecessary deaths of those in care. He gives reasons for exercising due caution and retaining empowerment as he describes how doctors get their information on care, how drug companies must operate to remain profitable, poisons in prescribed drugs, invented diseases, medical malfeasance, antibiotic-proof bugs and defensive medicine lead to marginal benefits, if any, of treatment and a decided avoidance of disease prevention through diet, lifestyle and social factors. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

War trauma; lessons unlearned, from Vietnam to Iraq; v.3: A Vietnam trilogy.

Scurfield (School of Social Work, U. of Southern Mississippi — Gulf Coast) presents the third volume of a trilogy that explores psychiatric trauma among veterans of the Vietnam War and other conflicts. The volume explores parallels between military mental health interventions in Vietnam and in the current war in Iraq, compares the mental health effects of different conflicts, explores impacts of deployment on active duty personnel and their families, and presents a model of recovery for veterans. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)