Medicine and Culture: Revised Edition - Paperback

by Lynn Payer (Author)

"Extremely illuminating . . . An enjoyable read."
--New Scientist

Back Jacket

A classic comparative study of medicine and national culture, Medicine and Culture shows us that while doctors regard themselves as servants of science, they are often prisoners of custom. The United States, England, Germany, and France have equivalent life expectancy rates, yet medical treatment differs enormously from country to country. A new foreword by the author examines the trend toward evidence-based medicine and addresses the substantial changes in medical culture since 1988, including the proliferation of alternative medicine and the changing face of medicine in the European Community since the fall of Communism.

Author Biography

Lynn Payer (1945-2001) was a science writer and medical journalist. She served as editor for the New York Times Good Health magazine and wrote extensively about medical issues for doctors as well as for the general public. She was the author of Medicine and Culture, Disease-Mongers, and How to Avoid a Hysterectomy.