Port in the Storm: How to Make a Medical Decision and Live to Tell about It

This book is even better than the other reviewers say! Besides covering the bases on how to make medical decisions, Dr Giller addresses MANY realistic aspects most people wouldn't consider. For instance, he talks about how to deal with both good and bad outcomes post-decision (and tells you why you might be depressed even when things turn out WELL) - or discusses how to deal with the situation of making medical decisions for someone ELSE - a relative, child, or teenager. He discusses why location, location, location (as in real estate) may be a critical factor in deciding on your medical care. He offers respectful, compassionate realism - life is hard and you can't escape risk or guarantee good results whatever you do - along with tips on how to psychologically manage the situation and provide comfort for yourself while not doing so at the expense of worsening your medical situation. There are other great books also on this topic, but even if you already have some of those, get this one too! I can't praise it too highly.

Important decisions are rarely straight forward. This is particularly true of medical decisions. Choices are intricate, outcomes uncertain and ultimately the decision is yours. Cole Giller, a board-certified neurosurgeon and associate professor, draws on his experience of guiding his patients through this difficult maze to offer guidance to anyone facing an important medical decision. In doing so, he has penned a book of wisdom that transcends its stated purpose. Giller's six steps for making medical decisions are applicable to anyone faced with a bewildering array of choices. Simply put, they are: 1. Identify your options. 2. Identify the trade-offs. 3. Find the supporting data. 4. Be skeptical of the data. 5. Pay attention to your beliefs. 6. Contemplate the decision's meaning. This book is a treasure. Giller weaves his experience into a well-written, easily-understood and widely-applicable approach to dealing with complicated decisions. While the book is a compassionate guide for individuals facing a medical challenge, it also offers sound guidance for decision-makers in any field. Knowledge may be power, as the old saw says. But all too often in this age of information explosion, it is not enough to overcome the decision crisis. Giller's model provides a practical for living with the decision's results.

Here's why I bought this book and why you might need it yourself: 1. Medical decisions are NOT what they used to be and patients need to be informed in order to make the right decision. 2. The book outlines the six major steps necessary to make the right decision - from identifying your options to interpreting numbers, etc 3. This book includes a guide to the right reference books and tips on reading and interpreting relevant medical articles, newsletters, television and even advertisements. 4. It includes a guide to the internet as well as suggested Web sites. There are also helpful tips for navigating PubMed and other medical websites. 5. Included are valuable strategies for finding the right medical information and interpreting the often confusing numbers and percentages included in medical tests and other medical procedures. 6. Finally, this book looks at ALL the various aspects of medical treatment, from medical insurance to managing doctors. I've never seen another book like it and think it'd be invaluable for any patient - or family of one.

In the last twenty years, my immediate family has been struck by five --5--major medical catastrophes. We plowed through medical libraries and whatever sources we could find in order to become informed, know what questions to ask, and try to decide where to go for treatment and how to find the best physicians. It was always a frightening, tiring and difficult process. If Dr. Cole Giller's book had been available for us to use, it would have made an unbelievable difference in our ability to make very difficult decisions. Give this book to family members and friends. You will be doing them a tremendous favor.

When I picked up this book, I read it cover to cover in one sitting--I couldn't put it down. As a family physician, I help my patients make tough medical decisions every day, and I know firsthand how agonizing the process can be. In this book, Dr. Cole Giller leads patients through six steps of the medical decision making process to help them make choices that are best for them, in keeping with their beliefs, values, and priorities. The book is compelling and easy to read, written by a doctor that is not only competent, but extremely compassionate. It is a must-read for anyone who is faced with making a medical decision, whether it is a physician, a patient, or someone who must decide for a loved one.