Group Discussion Questions
- What do you think the author means by the medical maze?
- Do you think he’s right that our medical system is causing thousands of unnecessary deaths?
- Do you think the average patient like me can get smart enough to avoid getting hurt? Can you see yourself having a conversation with your doctor like in Appendix I?
- What do you think he means by permanent patient? Is it just a state of mind?
- Do you think the book is correct that the medical industry looks for new disease definitions and formulates recommended treatments— to maximize revenue?
- Do you think Big Pharma is effectively regulated by the FDA or are they “in bed” together?
- Do you think the cancer treatment industry operates around fear? Are we overtreating Stage 1 cancer?
- Do you think invasive heart tests are revenue-driven or genuinely effective?
- Do you think the author is correct that it is dangerous to be in any hospital without an advocate?
- Do you think the book is right when it says dying at home or in hospice are the best options, not a hospital?
- Has going to the doctor changed over the last 10 years? How? Is it better or worse?
- There are only two developed countries which allow prescription drug advertising on television. Is that helping our health or our society?
- Is healthcare in this country the best in the world?
- Do you think we’ve made real progress on cancer since President Nixon declared war on it in the early seventies?
- Why do you think healthcare in the US costs twice that of the nearest other developed country? Are we twice as healthy? Do we live any longer?
- Do you think your doctor is always candid with you? Do you think he’s free to exercise his best clinical judgement?
- Do you think prescription medicines can prevent illness?