Critical Decisions: How You and Your Doctor Can Make the Right Medical Choices Together
Author(s): Peter A. Ubel (Author)
- Publisher: HarperOne
- Publication Date: 4 Sept. 2012
- Edition: 1st
- Language: English
- Print length: 360 pages
- ISBN-10: 0062103822
- ISBN-13: 9780062103826
Book Description
“As a physician and a social scientist, Peter Ubel is unparalleled in his understanding of some of the most important decisions we are facing, or will face.”
—Dan Ariely, New York Times bestselling author of Predictably Irrational
“His ideas are important, his style is accessible (with the right balance of humor and compassion) and his topic is timely.”
—Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness and host of “This Emotional Life”
All too often, problems in communication between a doctor and patient can lead to bad medical decisions. As a practicing physician and a behavioral scientist, Dr. Peter Ubel has a unique understanding of this dangerous situation—and in Critical Decisions he addresses the problem while revealing a new revolution in medical decision-making. Critical Decisions combines eye-opening medical stories with groundbreaking behavioral science research, while offering important information and common sense solutions to promote better doctor/patient relationships thereby ensuring that the right decision will be made in life-saving medical situations.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Decisions affecting our health and our loved ones’ are some of the most important that we make. As a physician and social scientist, Peter Ubel is unparalleled in his understanding of the influences that guide our medical decisions, and here he shows us how we can make better decisions.” (Dan Ariely, bestselling author of The Honest Truth About Disohnesty and Predictably Irrational)
“Written with clarity and a touch of humor, this is a quick and thoughtful read, a good choice for patients, and a must for medical professionals.” (
Library Journal)
“Ubel’s advice for doctors is solid, and his suggestions for patients are equally sage.” (
Booklist)
From the Back Cover
We've all been there, sittinguncomfortably in a paper gownas a doctor impassively describesour prognosis. Sometimes it's simple andtreatable. Other times we get news wecan't fathom and then are faced withdecisions that are literally life and death.
In this revolutionary book, physician,behavioral scientist, and bioethicist PeterUbel, M.D., reveals how hidden dynamicsin the doctor/patient relationship keepus and our loved ones from making thebest medical choices. From doctors whostruggle to explain, to patients who failto properly listen, countless factors alterthe course of our care, causing things togo seriously awry.
With riveting stories of Ubel's own experiencein the field, his groundbreakingresearch, and his personal journey walkingloved ones through difficult treatmentchoices, Critical Decisions will foreverchange the way we communicate insidehospitals and medical offices, wherethoughtful decision making matters themost. Dr. Ubel has been on both endsof the stethoscope, and in this book,he shows how patients and doctorscan learn to become partners and worktogether to make the right choices. Fromchoosing to get surgery, to discussingthe side effects of a blood pressure medication,we can finally discover the toolsto improve communication, understandthe issues, and make confident decisionsfor our future health and happiness.
About the Author
Peter A. Ubel, M.D.,is a physician and a behavioral scientistat Duke University. An internationally renownedwriter and researcher, he is theauthor of three books: Pricing Life, You'reStronger Than You Think, and Free MarketMadness. He writes for numerous sciencepublications as well as the New York Times,the Los Angeles Times, Psychology Today,and The New England Journal of Medicine.
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