The Medical Cop-Out

This is the story of Cynthia Birrer who towards the end of 1974 realized that she was ill and consulted a doctor. A year later she was a little more than an invalid unable to hold down the teaching job she loved unnerved by a bewildering array of symptoms for which no satisfactory explanation could be advanced and for which no adequate treatment was given crippled by pain that was the direct result of a totally unnecessary medical test performed on her. This is the story of only one woman but what is unsettling about it is that it could happen to others too. For what guarantee has the sick person that the doctor who is treating him is competent that he exercises due care in prescribing medicines and treatment that he really cares?This book is no indictment of the medical profession it is no attempt to start a crusade against the members of this group. It is instead an earnest and genuine attempt to spark off responsible debate on the grave moral social legal and medical issues that the conduct of the case raises.