International Journal of Epidemiology 2002;31:696-697
© International Epidemiological Association 2002
Book Review |
Bleeding the Patient: The Consequences of Corporate Health Care.
D Himmelstein, S Woolhandler, I Woolhandler. Monroe, ME: Common Courage Press, 2001, pp. 238, $15.95. ISBN: 1-56751-206-2.
Unlike most books written by respected academics, this book is not directed at an audience of fellow researchers, but designed for polemical, not to say, political, purposes. It is a direct contribution to the debate about the funding of health care in the US. It is written for an American audience, and the authors assume a high degree of familiarity with the American health care system. No concessions are made for interested foreigners (or, indeed, Americans) who might need an introduction to the current state of play. For example, the key term, ‘HMO’ (health maintenance organization) is not explained.
As the authors state in their introduction, they wrote the book